History of Russia: International Theoretical and Practical conference “Zemstvo Institutions and Local Government: Past and Present” in Moscow

April 21-22, 2014, International Scientific and Practical Conference "Zemstvo Institutions and Local Government: Past and Present" was held in Moscow.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev sent greetings to the participants of the conference.

The conference was organized by the Federation Council in conjunction with the M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University and timed to the 150th anniversary of the establishment of Zemstvo in Russia.

The Chairman of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko spoke at the conference. She said: "Our common goal is the integration of modern scientific knowledge in public decision making, the use of historical experience in the modern practice of state-building."

In his report, the rector of M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University Viktor Sadovnichiy stressed that the Zemstvo reform of 1864 was one of the most important reforms in Russia. "The system of Zemstvo proved its efficiency in solving local problems, socio-economic issues, issues in the field of public education, health, science. Zemstvo promoted the establishment of a modern infrastructure and the development, in modern parlance, of "human capital." The role of Zemstvo was especially important the development of system of universal primary education."

April 22, the conference will continue its work in sections.