On May 5, a Russian government delegation headed by Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky visited Syrian Palmyra. As a Vedomosti correspondent reports, the delegation, in particular, included the director of the Hermitage Mikhail Piotrovsky and the artistic director of the St. Petersburg House of Music, cellist and friend of Vladimir Putin Sergei Roldugin.

Together with the Russians, representatives of China, South Africa, Peru, Armenia, Zimbabwe, Serbia and a number of other UNESCO countries visited Palmyra. Serbia's representative to this organization, Darko Tanaskovic, said that most of the monuments in Palmyra were destroyed by Islamic State militants (banned in Russia), but all UNESCO members are unanimous in their desire to help the Syrians in their restoration. According to the representative of Russia to UNESCO, Eleonora Mitrofanova, the process of restoring Palmyra could take five years.

Later on Thursday, the Mariinsky Theater Symphony Orchestra will give a concert in Palmyra under the direction of People's Artist of Russia Valery Gergiev. Musicians will play in the ancient amphitheater. Concert “With a Prayer for Palmyra. Music brings ancient walls to life" will be dedicated to the memory of Captain Alexander Prokhorenko, Hero of Russia, who died in the battles for Palmyra. It is unclear whether Roldugin will participate in the concert.

Medinsky and Roldugin arrived in Palmyra