International Initiatives: 2023 declared the Year of Russian as a Language of Interethnic Communication in the CIS, and St. Petersburg to be the CIS Cultural Capital

Within the framework of the CIS Heads of State Council meeting that took place in Astana on October 14, 2022, leaders of the CIS member states have adopted a package of documents, including decisions that have to do with declaring St. Petersburg (the Russian Federation) the CIS Cultural Capital in 2023 and creating an international organisation to support and promote the Russian Language.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin has noted in his speech: “We are thankful for your [the CIS’] supporting the Russian initiative to declare the city of St. Petersburg the 2023 cultural capital…

Let me also remind you that in December 2020 we made a decision to declare 2023 the Year of Russian as a Language of Interethnic Communication in the CIS. It is symbolic that we are approaching its launch with an interesting new project proposed by Mr Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the President of Kazakhstan, on the creation of an international organisation for the promotion of Russian under the CIS umbrella. Naturally, we will provide all-out assistance in implementing this initiative”.