On April 20, 2026, the Moscow State University of Psychology and Education (MSUPE) hosted the International Media Forum “Russia – Turkey: 105 Years Plus”. The event was timed to coincide with the historic milestone — the 105th anniversary of the Moscow Treaty of Friendship and Brotherhood between the RSFSR and Turkey, which laid a solid foundation for multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.
The forum organizers were:
- The Union of Journalists of Moscow,
- The Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund,
- The Russian Peace Foundation,
- Moscow State University of Psychology and Education (MSUPE).
- The event was held with informational support from the media group “Big Asia”.
The forum brought together leading journalists, diplomats, experts, media professionals, and representatives of the academic and expert communities from both countries. The program included a plenary session “Russia – Turkey: Political Dialogue and the Public Context of Partnership in the 21st Century”, as well as thematic sections dedicated to building sustainable media partnerships against disinformation, mutual perceptions of the two countries in the media, and cultural stereotypes versus reality as a basis for humanitarian and economic cooperation.
One of the most prominent speakers at the forum was Alfiya Amirova, President of the Regional Public Organization “International Union of Women”. Speaking at the plenary session, she presented a report titled “Civil Society Organizations: A Bridge Between the State and Society”.
Alfiya Amirova emphasized that in an era of global challenges and porous borders, non-state structures can become the very living thread that connects countries and continents.
“Our organization has been proving this in practice for more than a decade. We unite women entrepreneurs, leaders, and activists from Russia and dozens of foreign countries. Our motto is cooperation, development, and mutual assistance,” Amirova noted, addressing the forum participants.
In her speech, the President of the International Union of Women cited specific projects that already serve as living embodiments of this bridge:
-
Dialogue at the Highest Level. Since 2021, the organization has been holding the International Forum “Woman of the Third Millennium,” which has gathered more than 800 delegates from 40 countries, including Brazil, Qatar, China, India, Pakistan, Ecuador, Mongolia, as well as CIS states. The forum is supported by the Moscow Government, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federation Council, and Rossotrudnichestvo. Notably, in 2023 and 2025, Ms. Gülden Türktan — founder of W20 (Women 20), a prominent Turkish public figure, gender equality expert, and leader of the G20 women’s agenda — participated online with a welcoming address.
-
Cultural Diplomacy. The International Photo Contest “Mother and Children in National Costumes” (since 2019), held under the auspices of the Russian Commission for UNESCO, has received more than 20,000 entries from 89 regions of Russia and foreign countries. Its photo exhibitions have been successfully held at the UN Office in Vienna, as well as in more than 45 Russian diplomatic missions abroad, including the Russian Consulate General in Istanbul.
-
Support for Crafts and Folk Traditions. The festival “With Women’s Hands” has been running since 2014 and has brought together over 5,000 artisans from 45 regions of Russia and 35 countries, including France and Italy.
-
Expert Dialogue. The discussion club “VISION 3000” has held 40 sessions with the participation of more than 360 experts — representatives of government, diplomats, and business leaders. Russian and foreign representatives regularly take part in the club’s meetings. Discussions range from the economy of trust to strategies for unity in a multipolar world.
Alfiya Amirova specifically addressed the potential of Russian-Turkish partnership. According to her, culture, women’s entrepreneurship, and public diplomacy are the three pillars on which strong cooperation can be built. She expressed openness to joint projects with Turkish partners — from exhibitions and entrepreneurial missions to countering disinformation in the media.
“Our experience shows: genuine interest, respect for traditions, and a willingness to listen to each other work wonders. Civil society organizations are the force that can fill interstate relations with living human content,” Amirova concluded, after which she showed a video about the key projects of the International Union of Women.
The official opening ceremony of the media forum was led by Sergey Evgenyevich Cheremin, Minister of the Moscow Government and Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of the City of Moscow. In his speech, he detailed the dynamics of interaction between the Russian capital and the Republic of Turkey. Sergey Cheremin noted that the ties are close and productive: last year, the mutual trade turnover reached about $30 billion. Dozens of Turkish companies, including major developers, are successfully operating in Moscow’s economy.
The Head of the Department especially emphasized the partnership with Ankara and Istanbul, stating: “Istanbul is very similar to Moscow in size, population, and dynamics of development. Today we are the two largest urban agglomerations in Eurasia.” He also spoke about Moscow’s participation in the Heritage Istanbul exhibition dedicated to the preservation of historical and cultural heritage, where the Moscow stand was recognized as one of the best. Moreover, an initiative was born at the forum to hold the next Heritage Istanbul exhibition in the Russian capital.
Another confirmation of strong humanitarian ties, according to Sergey Cheremin, will be the upcoming unveiling of monuments: a monument to Yuri Gagarin in Ankara and a monument to the outstanding Turkish poet Yunus Emre in Moscow.
The speech by Alfiya Amirova organically complemented this agenda, confirming that the cultural and humanitarian dimension of Russian-Turkish relations is no less significant than politics and economics. Forum participants highly appreciated the presented projects, and many expressed readiness for further cooperation.
