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🌏 Head of the Center for International Interaction and Cooperation, Areg Agasaryan, was elected Deputy Chairman of the Public Council at Rossotrudnichestvo

On April 9, a meeting of the Public Council at Rossotrudnichestvo was held, following which Areg Agasaryan, Head of the CIIC, was unanimously elected Deputy Chairman. The Public Council at Rossotrudnichestvo is tasked with promoting international humanitarian cooperation and facilitating international development with the direct participation of civil society representatives.

🇷🇺 As a member of the Council and Head of the CIIC, Areg Agasaryan made a significant contribution to supporting Rossotrudnichestvo's international humanitarian initiatives. These include the russification of the Victory Park memorial complex in Uzbekistan, humanitarian aid to refugees from Artsakh, the promotion of Russian language in Armenia, the development of partnerships with Madagascar, and other projects to preserve Russia's historical and cultural heritage.

The key focus of Areg Agasaryan's new role will be improving the effectiveness of interactions with foreign non-profit organizations that have a status of partner Russian Houses:

For our part, we propose making this work systemic, establishing a clear and consistent line of interaction, and creating conditions under which partner Russian Houses can become sustainable centers for supporting and promoting Russian interests abroad.

Selection of Speakers for the Conference on Cultural and Natural Heritage

‼️ The last day remains to submit your application as a speaker for the conference «Promoting the Involvement of Cultural and Natural Heritage Sites, Recreation and Entertainment Organizers, and Culture in Regional and Global Spiritual and Educational Routes».

🗓 Dates:
April 22, 2026 — Main Day
April 23, 2026 — Excursion Day

📍 Venue:
Holy Trinity Alexander Nevsky Lavra (St. Petersburg)

Key Conference Topics
▪️Religion and Economy: New Paths of Interaction between the State, Religious Organizations, and the Tourism Sector
▪️Traditional Values ​​as a Resource for Youth Policy and International Cooperation
▪️The Great Russian Northern Route: Prospects for the Development of Spiritual and Educational Routes
▪️International Partnership Based on Shared Values

Who can become a speaker?

💙Tourism company executives, tour operators;
💙Representatives of religious organizations;
💙Heritage conservation specialists, employees of protected areas and museum-reserves;
💙Youth leaders, bloggers, volunteer project organizers;
💙Representatives of the media and travel portals.

✅ All expenses are covered by the host.

🌐 Registration form - until April 10:
https://forms.gle/tprE8BZDGM5xr4YCA

If you are interested in participating as a speaker, please complete the form and briefly describe your experience on the relevant topic.

🎓 Spring Demographic School at HSE University

Dear friends, our colleagues from the A.G. Vishnevsky Institute of Demography at HSE University are holding the Spring Demographic School from May 25th to 29th.

The school will feature lectures, seminars, and projects with leading Russian experts and young scientists. The school is a great opportunity to meet new people and gain new skills.

📢 Participation and accommodation (for out-of-towners) are free. Selection is competitive.

Who can participate?

📌Second- to fifth-year undergraduate and specialist students from Russian universities.
📌Recent graduates who have not been accepted to master's programs.

What awaits you at the spring school?

📚 Demographic theories from the basics to trend analysis
📊 Data science practice
🗂 Introduction to demographic data analysis methods

❓How to apply?

1. Gather your documents and submit them by April 5, 2026, at 11:59 PM.
2. Wait for the committee's decision by April 17.

🗣 Details on the school's website
https://www.hse.ru/demo/sdp/spring-school
For questions, please email
Demographic.school.HSE@yandex.ru

🇨🇺 🌏Cuba at a Crossroads: Energy Crisis, Economic Opening, and Diplomatic Tensions

Specially for the TG channel the «Center for International Interaction and Cooperation», Ekaterina Plotnikova, expert of our center about the events in Cuba:

The Energy Crisis Deepens
Over the past 48 hours, Cuba experienced a total collapse of its national power grid, leaving 10 million people in the dark. While officials have since reconnected much of the grid — including Havana and regions from Pinar del Río to Holguín — the underlying issues remain dire. The Antonio Guiteras plant, a linchpin of the system, is back online, but electricity generation is still far below demand. Most Cubans were already facing up to 16 hours of daily blackouts even before this collapse.

The cause is a severe fuel shortage. Since the US ramped up pressure by cutting off oil supplies from Venezuela and threatening tariffs on other suppliers, Cuba has received only two small oil vessels this year. The fuel shortage is so severe that it has crippled essential social services: hospital backup generators, starved of fuel, have ceased operations, forcing medical staff to suspend critical procedures and endangering the lives of patients who rely on life-support equipment. The energy collapse is now disrupting international air travel, prompting airlines to postpone flights to the island. This uncertainty deals a looming blow to Cuba's vital tourism sector.

A Historic Economic Pivot
In the midst of this crisis, Havana has announced a significant policy shift: for the first time, Cubans living abroad will be allowed to invest in and own businesses on the island. This move targets the Cuban diaspora, which has seen over a million people emigrate in recent years. The government is specifically courting investment in agriculture and permitting the establishment of investment banks.

While experts call the move "pragmatic", it comes under "maximum pressure" from Washington and may be a bid to unlock new capital flows. However, it remains unclear if this will be enough to offset the broader economic freefall.

The Geopolitical Layer
These events are unfolding against a backdrop of tense negotiations between Cuba and the United States. While reports suggest the US has called for leadership changes in Havana, Cuba's leadership has publicly vowed "unbreakable resistance" against any external imposition. Crucially, Cuban officials state they are willing to negotiate a wide range of issues but draw a red line at discussing their internal political system.

A Fragile Path Forward
With energy instability now the norm and diplomatic talks ongoing, the island is walking a tightrope between external pressure and internal survival. The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether negotiations can yield any relief for the Cuban people.

🔥Regular #CIIC_digest

We haven't done a digest in a while. There's been an incredible amount of events in that time, so we've gathered the latest news in one place.

🇷🇺 Russia Comments on the Energy Market Situation

The energy market is experiencing significant turmoil amid the conflict over Iran, making it difficult to predict its future dynamics. Officials estimate that the current instability is creating uncertainty for all market participants and complicating assessments of its development prospects.

🇳🇵Nepal: Opposition Party Wins Landslide Election Victory and Forms New Government

In Nepal, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) won a landslide victory in the general elections, securing 182 of the 275 parliamentary seats—their largest margin in decades. The party's candidate, Balendra Shah, has been nominated for prime minister and is mandated to stabilize the political system following a series of protests and government changes. The elections took place against the backdrop of anti-corruption protests planned for 2025, and experts expect the new government to be able to ensure more stable governance.

🇨🇳US-China Leaders' Meeting Postponed Amid Trade and Geopolitical Disagreements

The planned meeting between Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping was postponed due to ongoing tensions in trade and economic relations between the countries and the complex international situation. The main factors were protracted negotiations over the terms of engagement, as well as the impact of foreign policy crises, including the situation in the Middle East. However, the talks were not cancelled definitively; the parties continued preparations for dialogue, which subsequently took place after further coordination of positions.

🇮🇷 Iran Announces Supreme Leader's Stable Condition

Iranian authorities reported that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is in satisfactory condition, and that his previous injuries were minor. The Foreign Ministry emphasized the stability of the country's political system and its independence from individual individuals. They also denied reports that he was undergoing treatment abroad; it is possible that he will make a public address in the near future.

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan approved a new Constitution: the country's political system will be reformed

On March 15, 2026, a nationwide referendum concluded in Kazakhstan, resulting in citizens supporting a new Constitution that significantly changes the current political system. The document provides for the updating of most provisions of the Basic Law, parliamentary reform, the introduction of the post of vice president, and the strengthening of executive power. When the Constitution comes into force on July 1, the current parliament will be dissolved, after which snap elections are scheduled within a month.

🇮🇷 The Iranian Scenario: An Analysis of Diplomatic Failure and the New Balance of Power in the Middle East

The official launch of the US military operation against Iran on February 28 was dominated by rhetoric about nuclear disarmament. However, as analysis shows, economic considerations and regional influence play a far more relevant role.

🌏 Our center's expert, Dmitry Kukoyev, and independent expert and Iranian citizen Benjamin Valami, provided a detailed article on how long the Iranian economy will survive and what influence the US has on these processes.

The articles examine how Khamenei's death changed the power structure in Tehran, why the IRGC now controls everything, and what will happen to commodity prices in the coming weeks.

Overall, the current conflict, and Iran’s response in the form of strikes on neighboring countries, is leading to a significant reduction in the number of countries in the region willing to tolerate risk and sanctions evasion through which Iran had operated its exports. At the same time, it is unlikely that the current buyers of Iranian oil and mineral raw materials will refuse to continue deals altogether, but it is fair to say with confidence that transport premiums and risk discounts will gradually rise over the course of the conflict, leading to a contraction of the Iranian economy.

🔗 You can read the completed article at this link https://telegra.ph/The-Iranian-Scenario-An-Analysis-of-Diplomatic-Failure-and-the-New-Balance-of-Power-in-the-Middle-East-03-10

Authors: Independent expert and Iranian citizen Benjamin Valami and CIIC expert Dmitry Kukoyev

🇬🇧 London Shifts Strategy: Why Is Britain Increasing Its Activity in Central Asia?

While the world's media attention is focused on other crises, the United Kingdom is quietly but confidently strengthening its presence in the heart of Eurasia. Tomorrow, February 26, London will host a meeting of the foreign ministers of the United Kingdom and five Central Asian countries. However, behind the diplomatic protocols lies a tough economic game.

Britain, having for many years not viewed this region as an independent center of power, is now placing serious emphasis on it. The reason is not only its traditional desire to contain Russia, but also its urgent need for resources for its own "green transition." Lithium, uranium, and rare earth metals—Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan—are becoming key players in the UK's Critical Minerals Strategy.

On the eve of the meeting, Astana and London already signed a roadmap for a strategic partnership in this area. Uzbekistan was promised 4 billion pounds in guarantees in exchange for access to mining projects.

🌏 How does London plan to outpace China in the resource race, and what will countries in the region receive in return?
Alina Eliseeva, an expert at our Center, shared her opinion on this issue exclusively for Lenta.Ru.

🔗 You can read the full text at this link https://lenta.ru/news/2026/02/27/uk-ca/

Author: Alina Eliseeva

🇮🇷🇨🇳 "They started this mess themselves." China has begun to pressure Iran over its conflict with the United States. What does Beijing demand of its partner?

The recent US military intervention in Iran has become the latest escalation in the Middle East. This conflict, undoubtedly initiated in line with Western geopolitical interests, clearly demonstrates Washington's desire to strengthen its position in the region. However, in a globalized economy, a blow to stability inevitably affects all participants in international supply chains. This is why the People's Republic of China, as a key economic player, could not remain indifferent to these developments.

🌏 Our center's expert, Ivan Bubnov, wrote an article for Lenta.RU about why China has begun to pressure Iran over its conflict with the United States.

China's restrained rhetoric is dictated by concerns about its own energy security: the region, which has become a war zone, accounts for approximately 50% of China's oil imports and a significant portion of its gas imports.

✈️ You can read the full text here https://lenta.ru/news/2026/03/03/china-iran

Author: Ivan Bubnov

A Look at Economics Through the Lens of Doctrines: A Lecture by Anton Galeev at the Young Humanities Forum

🌏 On March 2, 2026, the program of the international competition and workshop for young humanities scholars "Challenges of Multipolarity" (organized with the support of the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund) featured a lecture by renowned economist and historian of science Anton Galeev (HSE University).

In his presentation, "Fighting Dogmas, Employing Doctrines: Economic Systems and Models in Theory and Practice at the Age of Global Transformation," the expert proposed a discussion of the development of economic methodology within the framework of a multipolar world.

Participants learned how theoretical constructs are transformed into practical development models and how historical context influences the choice of strategies in an era of global transformation.

✨ The depth and originality of the lecturer's approach resonated with the audience: the insightful debate and the high level of engagement in the discussion of the proposed theses convincingly demonstrated the conceptual significance of the event.

🇺🇸🇨🇺Incident off the Coast of Cuba: Why the U.S. Calls the Blockade "Maximum Pressure"

Cuban military forces recently repelled a naval incursion: a group of armed Cubans from Florida opened fire on a patrol vessel while attempting to reach the island.

🌏 In an analysis for Gazeta.Ru, expert Ekaterina Plotnikova from our Center examined the historical parallels with the Cuban Missile Crisis and explained why the White House is avoiding the term "blockade."

The White House has deliberately avoided calling the current events a blockade, as a blockade is considered a serious act of war.

Despite the incentive to mobilize the electorate ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections, a direct military confrontation between the U.S. and Cuba remains unlikely. The measured reaction of American politicians, the collective historical trauma associated with the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, and the establishment's confidence in the effectiveness of the island's economic isolation suggest that the status quo is likely to persist in the near future.

👉 The full article is available at the link: https://www.gazeta.ru/politics/news/2026/02/26/27946861.shtml

Author: Ekaterina Plotnikova

🕊️ Inspiring Future Diplomats: A Lecture at the HSE Lyceum

🌏 Our expert, Daria Korchemnaya, recently visited the HSE Lyceum to share her experience with the next generation of international relations professionals. The Lyceum was an especially fitting venue for this discussion, having been named the best school in Moscow in 2025 by the RAEX agency.

The event brought together students from the humanities and socio-economic departments—young people already seriously considering a career on the global stage. The goal was to give them a realistic and inspiring look at their chosen path, and by the end, it's safe to say they left with plenty to think about.

💬 What did they discuss?

🟣The realities of the profession: Where is the line between the romantic ideal of diplomacy and the demands of everyday work?
🟣Essential skills for success: What abilities—beyond foreign languages—should they be cultivating right now to become sought-after specialists?
🟣Planning their education: Which universities and specific departments offer the best launching pads for a career in international relations?

A particularly engaging part of the lecture focused on relations between Russia and Latin American countries. Daria shared her insights on the region's unique characteristics, its rich cultural heritage, and the current trends shaping bilateral ties.

The students’ enthusiasm was the highlight of the day. Their thoughtful and numerous questions showed a deep interest in the topics and a real commitment to their future careers.

🇷🇺 February 23: From History to the Present Day

The holiday traces its origins back to 1918, when it was linked to the first battles of the Red Army. Later, this day changed its name several times, until it became Defender of the Fatherland Day in 2002.

Today, the meaning of the holiday has returned to its origins. We once again thank those who are now on the front lines. And those who are waiting for them back home.

🙏🏻 We'd like to express our gratitude to everyone involved.

Happy holidays!

🇻🇪 "Blockade Imperialism": How the US is destroying healthcare in Venezuela and now Cuba?

Almost two months have passed since the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro — an unprecedented act of forcibly redrawing the geopolitical landscape.

In this context, the issue of the region’s economic sovereignty has become particularly acute, especially in a part of the world where pharmacology has historically been one of the state-forming industries. This is precisely why the sanctions policy pursued by the United States could not go unnoticed: by undermining access to innovation and patent protection, Washington is striking at the very foundations of national security and public health, seeking to transform Latin America from a strategic partner into a dependent semi-colony.

🌏 Dariya Korchemnaya, an expert at our center, commented on the current situation exclusively for @ogon_media (http://t.me/ogon_media).

🧷 You can read the full article via the link provided

Author: Dariya Korchemnaya

🌍🗳 International Election Observation and Electoral Sovereignty: Highlights from the Round Table at the IPA CIS Conference

⏺ On February 19, Areg Agasaryan, Head of the Center for International Interaction and Cooperation, took part in a round table on "International Observation of Elections and Referendums and the Protection of Electoral Sovereignty: Cooperation Among CIS, African, and Latin American States" held as part of the international conference "Building Trust in the Institution of Elections and Referendums: The Role of International Observation" in St. Petersburg.

The event, marking the 20th anniversary of the International Institute for Monitoring the Development of Democracy, Parliamentarism, and Respect for Electoral Rights of Citizens of IPA CIS Member States, brought together heads of electoral bodies, parliamentarians, experts, and representatives of civil society institutions from across the CIS and partner countries.

🌏 Areg Agasaryan emphasized that international election observation has become a critical tool for ensuring transparency and legitimacy of electoral processes.

However, he noted a growing concern regarding the neutrality of certain Western-funded observer organizations and stressed the growing demand for alternative methodologies:

"With the transition to multipolarity, the international community increasingly recognizes the need for pluralism of assessments and objective standards for observers guided not by political directives but by professional methodology and respect for the sovereignty of observed states. This is where the methodological developments and experience of the IPA CIS International Institute for Monitoring acquire special significance."

⏺He announced that approaching this challenge CIIC will host an international conference in Moscow this spring, gathering over 50 countries to discuss the creation of an international non-governmental association of experts in electoral processes and international election observation.

This institution will work on the gradual promotion of alternative Western methodologies and standards to help keep the electoral sovereignty and engage civil society institutions in protecting national interests of states.