On 11 February, the first meeting of the Public Council under Rossotrudnichestvo took place. This is a permanent advisory body that includes representatives of both educational and scientific structures, as well as media and business communities.
Peter Tolstoy, Deputy Speaker of the State Duma, who is also the Vice-Speaker of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in conversation with Rossotrudnichestvo commented on the ban on communication in Russian in a multi-ethnic state.
On January 16, an article of the "language law" entered into force in Ukraine, which introduces a total Ukrainization of the service sector. In the past 4 days, "MOVA activists" have sent about a hundred complaints, launching a real hunt for Russian speakers. Kiev journalist Ivan Rosada will share his opinion.
The Serbian student Luka Stevanovich studies law and is looking forward to taking up a master's degree programme at St Petersburg State University. Currently, he is a student at the preparatory course. With the pandemic restrictions, the University delivers the language course remotely; this has not become an obstacle in achieving high benchmarks in Russian language competency at all even within a semester.
The Chairman of the Commission Federation Council for Information Policy and Interaction with the Media Alexey Pushkov, who headed the State Duma Committee on International Affairs on the strategy of the new head of the American Agency in 2011-2016.
In 2020 St. Petersburg State University, together with the Ministry of Education of Russian Federation, held the largest competition in the field of Russian as a foreign language – the Second International Online Olympiad: it brought together more than 9500 participants from many countries, who really love the Russian language.
Online presentation of the international Photographic Competition News Photo Awards: Overcoming COVID will take place on December 17. This contest is intended for professional photojournalists from Europe and North America and highlights professional heroism of photoreporters working during the epidemic.
The submission deadline for the TASS-led News Photo Awards. Overcoming COVID contest has been prolonged to December 24, 2020. The organizing committee made the decision.