On June 26, a meeting took place between Valentina Matvienko, Chairwoman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, and Natalya Kochanova, Chairwoman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, and youth representatives from both countries. The event was held as part of the 12th Forum of the Regions of Russia and Belarus, taking place on June 26–27 in Nizhny Novgorod under the slogan: “Youth of Belarus and Russia – Heirs of the Great Victory and the Future of the Union State”.
In her welcoming remarks to the young leaders, Chairwoman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko noted that this year’s Forum coincides with the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. “For Russia and Belarus, and for every family in our countries, this is, without exaggeration, a special, sacred date that unites our peoples and our states,” she emphasized. She also warned of the growing attempts in some countries to completely rewrite the history of the war. “There is a so-called ‘silent,’ not immediately visible battle for the minds and hearts of the younger generation. We have no right to allow such negative influences. And it is you — as opinion leaders — who must play a leading role here,” said Matvienko. She expressed hope that the bonds of friendship between the peoples of Russia and Belarus would continue to grow stronger.
Chairwoman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Natalya Kochanova, for her part, urged young people to preserve historical memory, protect shared traditions, care for the older generation, and think about the future. “You have no right to betray any of this. To remember the past means to care about the future. That is precisely why the battle for the past is ongoing,” she stressed. She added that youth in Russia and Belarus should maintain strong friendships for the benefit of both countries and in support of the Union State.
During the meeting, the parliamentary speakers were introduced to four youth-led projects. High school student Arina Bustonova presented the family-centered initiative “Dear Ones and Loved Ones.” Alina Retkova, Chair of the Youth Council under the Council of the Republic of Belarus, spoke about the project “Youth Councils as a Form of Youth Engagement in the Socio-Political Life of the Republic of Belarus.” Lev Zakirov, Chair of the Chamber of Young Legislators under the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, presented the initiative “The Role of Youth in Russia and Belarus in State Governance.” Alexander Lukyanov, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Belarusian Republican Youth Union and a member of the Council of the Republic, gave a talk on “Modern Approaches to Patriotic Education of Youth within the Activities of Public Organizations in Belarus.”
During informal discussions with young participants, key topics included demographics and family values as the foundation for traditional principles, the development of future leadership teams, the importance of youth leadership at the municipal level, patriotic education, and the importance of communicating these values in a way that resonates with younger generations. Participants also exchanged experiences, ideas, and best practices from existing projects and initiatives.
“The dialogue clearly showed that supporting youth initiatives of the Union State is a real priority at the highest level. The projects and initiatives currently being implemented prove that this is more than just a formality. Youth in Russia and Belarus are actively working on joint projects in science, volunteerism, historical preservation, and cultural exchange. Their energy, enthusiasm, and sincere desire to make the world a better place contribute significantly to building a successful future for our Union,” stated Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate.
Prior to the event, the parliamentary speakers visited an exhibition showcasing youth-focused Union State projects. These included four initiatives from Russia and two from Belarus: “The Unconquered” – a patriotic expedition; “Soldier’s Letter” – an international patriotic song festival-competition; “Heirs of Traditions” – a children’s folk culture festival; “For Safety” – a vacation-time career guidance program; Union Student Teams – an example of youth synergy in the Union State; “Memory Train” – a cultural and educational initiative. Each project was presented by its organizer or an active participant. Dmitry Ivanov personally guided the exhibition tour.
Overview:
The World Youth Festival took place on March 1–7, 2024 in Sirius, according to the Decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the development of international youth cooperation. The WYF-2024 brought together 20,000 young leaders from 190 countries.
On the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation, the WYF will be held in Russia on a regular basis – once in six years. Also, every six years 10,000 young people from all over the world will get together at the World Youth Festival Forum, and in between, international themed assemblies for 2,000 participants will be held under the auspices of the WYF. The first Assembly is scheduled to take place in September 2025 in Nizhny Novgorod. Festival events of various formats will be held in Russia annually.
According to the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation on the preservation and development of the Festival legacy, the World Youth Festival Directorate continues the work aimed at strengthening international youth cooperation.
