Russia marks 100 years of public diplomacy with international forum in Moscow

Moscow hosted the International Cooperation Forum to mark the 100th anniversary of public diplomacy.

Held on October 26-27, 2025, at the “Russia” National Center in Moscow, the forum brought together over 2,000 participants from more than 100 countries. The event highlighted the significance of public diplomacy, built on the legacy of VOKS, an organization established in 1925 during the Soviet era.

An Institution of Soviet Heritage

From its inception, VOKS facilitated international cultural and scientific dialogue. Prominent visitors, particularly from the West, played a significant role in developing the Soviet-Western dialogue under the organization’s umbrella.

From its founding until 1930, the leading figure of VOKS was Olga Kameneva, the sister of Bolshevik Leon Trotsky, known for his “world revolution” theory, and the wife of Soviet leader Lev Kamenev. In subsequent years, the organization continued to be one of the most important foreign policy tools of the Soviet Politburo.

The tradition of cultural relations initiated by VOKS (the All-Union Society for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries), established on April 5, 1925, continues today under the auspices of Rossotrudnichestvo, Russia’s public diplomacy agency.

Messages from Russian Leadership: Multipolarity

At the opening session of the forum, organized with the support of Rossotrudnichestvo, the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO, and relevant state agencies, a message from President Vladimir Putin was read. The message, delivered by Presidential Advisor Valery Fadeev, emphasized that even in difficult foreign policy conditions, public diplomacy contributes to a multilateral understanding that supports the “legitimate interests of the country” and a vision of a just, democratic, and multipolar world order.

In a video address, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov highlighted the forum’s commitment to being “open to equal and honest partnership.” Lavrov’s message included topics such as the fight against neocolonialism, the 80th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War, and traditional spiritual and moral values.

The forum featured numerous distinguished speakers in sessions on “counter-narrative” cultural content and media diplomacy. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova drew attention to the role of information flow in foreign policy communication in the digital age.

Margarita Simonyan, Editor-in-Chief of Russia Today (RT), Rossiya Segodnya, and Sputnik, and Maxim Dreval, General Director of the Russian company “Znaniye,” were among the event’s organizers who also participated in the sessions. Alexander Rahr, one of Germany’s leading historians, was also among the forum’s attendees.

Among the forum’s speakers, renowned director Emir Kusturica criticized woke culture and stated that Europe needs to recall its cultural codes based on the Renaissance.

Emir Kusturica, Serbian film director and screenwriter

The Forum Brought the Global South Together

Africa was a focus of interest at the forum. Emphases on BRICS partnerships and South-South cooperation were prominent in the speeches.

As part of the International Cooperation Forum, the 4th International Media Award “Honest View” 2025 ceremony was held, celebrating honesty and integrity in global journalism.

The competition featured 821 candidates from 75 countries—including the CIS, Africa, Asia, Western Europe, and North and South America—and involved the participation of more than 100 journalists.

The “Honest View” Grand Prix was awarded to Boško Kozarski, a reporter and television presenter for the Serbian television channel “Balkan Trip” and the author of travel projects and documentaries titled Bodybuilder (Cultural Tourist) and Oaza (Oasis).

Editor-in-Chief of Harici Tunç Akkoç – Rossotrudnichestvo President Yevgeny Primakov

In his speech at the award ceremony, Yevgeny Primakov, the head of Rossotrudnichestvo, stated, “Writing and documenting honestly about today’s Russia is an act that requires courage. Honesty, in general, requires courage.”

Harici Medya from Türkiye was invited to the forum. Harici’s Editor-in-Chief Tunç Akkoç and Editor Mehmet Kıvanç represented Türkiye at the event.

Award ceremony participants