The competition was open to initiative teams representing capitals and urban districts with a population of at least 250,000 people. The finalists included Zaraisk and Kolomna, Vladivostok, Vladimir, Vologda, Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk, and Tomsk. The winner was announced today in Moscow: the jury evaluated not only the voting results but also the quality of cultural infrastructure and the diversity of the city's cultural programs and events. Today, Omsk is one of Russia's largest cities, but like many Siberian towns, it began its history as a small fortress. In 1716, by the order of Peter the Great, D. I. Buchholz's expedition set out to the confluence of the Irtysh and Om rivers to build a fortress there. The fort was intended to repel attacks by nomads who often troubled the region. However, the first exploratory expeditions visited the area as early as 1627. Boris Godunov had shown interest in annexing Siberia’s rich lands. However, the construction of a new fort became impossible at that time due to constant Kalmyk raids on the nearby town of Tara. The first fort was wooden, and it stood in this form for half a century. The fortress became home to the administration of other Siberian forts, which is why Omsk was established as a "bureaucratic city" from the very beginning. In addition to officials, the population included military personnel, their families, Cossacks, and a small number of peasants. Between 1768 and 1771, the reconstruction of the Omsk fortress was undertaken. Under orders from the Siberian Corps leadership, a higher location was chosen for the new settlement. Additionally, the defensive system incorporated technical innovations of the time. Thus, a new fortress appeared on the banks of the Om River. Its defenses included 4 bastions and 3 demi-bastions, with the enclosing wall having four gates: it was impossible to enter the settlement without passing through the Tarsk, Tobolsk, Irtysh, or Omsk gates. Soon, the first stone building was erected – a church, following the tradition of that era. In 1782, Omsk rose in administrative status, first becoming a provincial town and then a district center. This established the city as an important defensive and administrative hub in the Tobolsk viceregency. In 1785, the city received its coat of arms, reflecting Omsk's key features. Administrative reforms continued. In 1822, the establishment of the Eastern and Western Siberian Governorates-General significantly influenced Omsk's fate, as it became home to the General Administration of Western Siberia, led by the first Governor-General, P. M. Kapcevich. During the 19th century, Omsk became a place of exile for convicts. A false interpretation of the city’s name even emerged: Omsk was deciphered as "A Distant Place for the Exile of Convicts." This abbreviation does not reflect reality – the city was named after the Om River, on whose banks it was founded. In 1850, F. M. Dostoevsky arrived in the city, forever linking Omsk with Russian literary classics. Omsk appears in several of his works, such as "Crime and Punishment" and "Notes from the House of the Dead." Meanwhile, Omsk continued to grow, transforming into one of Russia's largest cities. By the mid-19th century, Omsk already had around 2,000 households, 75 shops, and 5 churches. By 1862, river navigation was established – the Irtysh connected Omsk with Semipalatinsk and Tobolsk. In 1894, the Trans-Siberian Railway reached the city. The railway transformed Omsk into a major transportation hub. A few months later, a railway bridge connected the banks of the Irtysh River, extending the route from Chelyabinsk to Novosibirsk. Omsk’s economically advantageous geographical position and the continental railway played a significant role in the city's development. Soon, the first economic facilities appeared: soap factories and flour mills. The city’s commercial center was established, and the Moscow trading rows occupied the main street. In addition, administrative concerns were handled in buildings like the Judicial Administration House and the Railway Administration. These structures greatly influenced the modern image of Omsk, now widely reproduced on souvenir products. In 1918-1919, Omsk became one of the epicenters of the Civil War. It hosted the Siberian Provisional Government, led by Admiral A. V. Kolchak. For a brief period, Omsk was declared the capital of the Russian Empire. However, this idea did not gain widespread support. The city remained the center of the White Guard for only a short time – within a year after the October Revolution, Omsk was captured by the Red Army under the command of Tukhachevsky. During the early five-year plans of the new government, Omsk transformed into an agrotechnical hub. The volume of agriculture and the production of the necessary equipment for it rapidly increased. During 1941-1945, many factories from Moscow, Leningrad, and Yaroslavl were evacuated to the city. These included tire, radio equipment, metalworking plants, and light industry enterprises. These factories formed the foundation of the city’s industrialization. During the war, the mass production of essential military equipment took place here: hundreds of tanks and planes, radio stations, weapons, and much more were manufactured. In the 1960s, oil refining began with the launch of an oil refinery. The development of this industry is closely tied to the exceptional leadership of I. Litskevich. In modern history, Omsk has held various positions in rankings of Russia’s largest cities, never dropping below 7th place. In the 1990s, Omsk, previously a partially closed city, opened up to the rest of the world. Modern Omsk is a major Siberian city with a rich history. Large economic enterprises continue to operate in the processing industry. Among them are the oil refinery, technical carbon plant, synthetic rubber factory, and others. The construction of the metro continues. The city boasts several theaters catering to various tastes: the Lyceum Theater, Drama Theater, and the Theater of Plastics. Children are welcomed at the circus, youth theater, or puppet theater. The Concert Hall, reopened in 2011 after extensive restoration, has been recognized by world-renowned musicians as one of the best in Siberia.