🇬🇲 First Russian Language Course in The Gambia Successfully Completed

On August 31, the inaugural Volga Summer Russian Language Course concluded at the University of The Gambia. The two-week program demonstrated strong interest in learning Russian: 94 people registered, while daily sessions brought together up to 43 participants.

📚 Over 10 intensive sessions and 30 academic hours, participants learned the Cyrillic alphabet, basic grammar, and practical vocabulary. By the end of the course, they could read short texts, introduce themselves, ask simple questions, and hold brief conversations in Russian. Practical exercises helped them use the language in everyday situations, from meeting new people to shopping. By the third day, more than 80% of the students could confidently introduce themselves in Russian.

🌏 The educational program was complemented by sessions on Russian culture, university life, science, and technology. Videos, music, role-playing exercises, and open discussions helped participants improve their pronunciation and listening skills while gaining a broader understanding of Russia. At the closing ceremony, students received certificates recognizing their successful completion of the course.

🌏😊 The initiative was developed by Gibril Faal and his team with the support of the Russkiy Mir Foundation, the Centre for International Interaction and Cooperation, and Rossotrudnichestvo. We were glad to contribute to transforming the idea presented to us a year ago into a successful educational project with tangible results.

We also thank the University of The Gambia, the Gambia Diaspora Foundation, the Smile Nation Foundation, the Embassy of The Gambia in Moscow, and other partners who supported the program. The project also received support from Russian Ambassador to The Gambia Mikhail Korneev and his diplomatic team.

🇷🇺 ✨ The next step is to build on these results by developing an online program up to the B1 level, expanding access to Russian language learning, and creating new educational opportunities for Gambian students interested in continuing their studies in Russia.

🏛️ “Open Elections”: Exploring Russia’s Electoral System

On September 13, one of the key events of the “Open Elections” Program at the International Festival of Youth – 2026 was an address by Ella Pamfilova, Chairperson of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.

She spoke to the Program participants, shared her perspective on the importance of a professional approach to electoral processes, and offered words of encouragement to the young experts ahead of the next stages of their work.

The single voting day in Russia is a concentration of the electoral activity of our citizens. Many of you will witness this event as part of the festival’s regional program.
Currently, the country’s electoral sovereignty determines its independence and strength, its ability to pursue its own course. Russia has the necessary set of electoral standards for this.

For us, it is important that participants gain a professional understanding of electoral procedures in Russia and of how election commissions and the observation system operate.

On the same day, we held two more educational events together with the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.

🔊 Pavel Andreev, Member of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, delivered a lecture entitled “National Specifics: the Electoral Process and Election Observation in the Russian Federation, and the 2026 Election to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.” Participants discussed the organization of voting, the work of election commissions, and election observation mechanisms.

⚪️ The Program then continued with the business debate “Elections of the Future,” focused on the development of electoral technologies and the future transformation of electoral processes.

Following the Festival stage, participants will continue their work across Russian regions, where they will assess the organizational, legal, and procedural aspects of voting and interact with election commissions.

💬 International Observation, Practical Training and Electoral Expertise

Another day of the “Open Elections” Program focused on international election observation, the practical work of experts at polling stations, and modern approaches to assessing electoral systems.

🌍 The central event of the day was a lecture by Sebastián López Calendino, Director of the Center for Electoral and Political-Institutional Studies at the Faculty of Legal and Social Sciences of the National University of La Plata in Argentina, entitled “Independent International Election Observation and Electoral Expertise in the Modern World.”

Calendino spoke about the role of independent expertise in contemporary electoral processes, the principles guiding international observers, and the importance of professional dialogue among specialists from different countries. For us, it is especially important to introduce young experts to different national and professional approaches to election observation and give them an opportunity to discuss these issues directly with experienced international practitioners.

“An international election observer does not steer any country’s ship. We do not choose its candidates, write its laws, or decide its future. Our task is to shine a light: to observe carefully, with method and honesty, and report what we actually saw.”

☑️ The practical part of the day focused on the working procedures of international observers and experts when visiting polling stations in Russia. Alexey Peskov, Executive Director of the Independent Public Monitoring Association, and Ilya Rudenko, Chair of the “For Clean Elections” Corps, guided participants through the monitoring checklist and the key aspects of an observer’s work directly at a polling station.

🎓 The Program concluded with a presentation of the Russian model of electoral rating by Vladimir Lukushin, Deputy Dean for Research at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Mass Communications of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation.

For us, it is important that every day of “Open Elections” gradually expands the participants’ professional toolkit — from understanding the principles of international observation to applying specific methods of analysis, monitoring, and professional assessment of electoral processes.

🌍 IAPEE Welcomes 14 New Members from 14 Countries

On September 15, members of the International Association of Political and Electoral Expertise (IAPEE) came together once again at the International Festival of Youth. Experts, researchers, and public figures from different countries met to discuss political systems, elections and international observation.

For us, it is especially important that the Association continues to develop as a professional international platform where representatives of different political and expert traditions can exchange experience, discuss current developments and contribute to new approaches in political and electoral expertise.

The key event was a presentation of the International Association of Political and Electoral Expertise. Vito Grittani, Chair of IAPEE, diplomat,and founder of the International Diplomatic Observatory, spoke about the Association’s principles, activities and future plans.

Vito Grittani:
“Our goal is to create a professional platform where experts from different countries can exchange experience, discuss observation methodologies, and jointly develop new approaches. IAPEE is built on cooperation, respect for national specificities, and professional dialogue.”

🤝 The meeting concluded with a ceremony welcoming new members to IAPEE. Representatives of 15 countries joined the Association, bringing new professional and regional perspectives to its international community.

🌏 The ceremony was led by Areg Agasaryan, Head of our Center and Member of the IAPEE Governing Council.

Areg Agasaryan:

“IAPEE is developing into an international professional community capable of preparing a new generation of experts. We want membership in the Association to mean active participation in missions, research, expert discussions, and professional cooperation.”

For the Association, expanding its membership means bringing together specialists with different professional backgrounds and experience, strengthening international dialogue, and developing a network of experts ready to contribute to political and electoral expertise.

✨ IAPEE continues to grow — and so does the international community united by professional dialogue on elections and political processes. 🌐