Media Forum for Russian‑Language Foreign Media Held in Istanbul

From September 21 to 24, the forum brought together over 50 participants — journalists, editors, and representatives of compatriot organizations from 26 countries. Representatives of Moscow Houses and Russian experts also took part. The event was organized by the Department for External Economic and International Relations, the Moscow House of Compatriots, and the Moscow Centre for International Cooperation.

The forum was opened with a welcoming address by Sergey Cheremin, Minister of the Government of Moscow and Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations. He emphasized the importance of regular dialogue with foreign media and confirmed that Moscow will continue to support Russian‑language media.

“It is a great honour for us that for several years now, compatriots from more than 50 countries have gathered in various cities — Istanbul, Yerevan, and the UAE. This rightfully allows us to call our forum international,” he noted.

In his speech, Cheremin also spoke about Moscow’s economic and social achievements, as well as plans for the city’s further development.

The forum participants were addressed by the leadership of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Maria Zakharova, Director of the Department of Information and Press, sent a video message emphasizing the significance of the Moscow initiative in supporting Russian‑language media abroad. A welcome address was also delivered by Andrey Buravov, Consul General of Russia in Istanbul, on whose behalf Attaché Andrian Andrianov read the statement.

The forum program included business discussions, meetings, and presentations. One of the key sessions was the panel “Self‑Identity in the Space Between East and West and Discussions on the Future Global World in the Media,” moderated by Alexey Maslov, Director of the Institute of Asian and African Studies at Moscow State University. Together with experts, participants discussed cultural traditions and political developments in Asia, the specificities of local media, and Russia’s role in the region.

Particular attention was paid to Moscow’s media. The newspaper “Vechernyaya Moskva” was presented by Deputy Directors General Elena Rybkina and Ekaterina Burmistrova. They spoke about the editorial team’s work and proposed discussing current trends in expanding and rejuvenating the audience.

The forum also served as a platform for creative exchange. A meeting was held with writer Yuri Polyakov — a prose writer, poet, playwright, and screenwriter. He shared his perspective on the role of literature in the modern world, spoke about his creative journey, and discussed the importance of historical memory for Russian culture.

An important part of the program was learning about the experience of the Moscow Union of Journalists. Olga Bychkova, Director of Development at the organization, presented the project “Russian Language – for Peace and Friendship, Dialogue and Cooperation,” which will include a journalism competition.

The business program concluded with a lecture‑discussion by Lidia Malygina, Head of the Department at RANEPA. She presented a report on “Generative Mass Media and Communications of the Future,” discussing the role of artificial intelligence in journalism and demonstrating its practical applications for editorial offices.

The forum served as a platform for experience exchange, professional discussions, and exploring new formats of interaction. Participants noted the importance of the meeting for developing cooperation among Russian‑language media worldwide.