The Ragusa Hub International Youth Center was officially inaugurated in the Serbian capital on June 2. Launched with the support of the World Youth Festival Directorate and the Gorchakov Fund, the project is set to become a new hub for active Serbian youth and a platform for launching joint Russian-Serbian initiatives.
“Russia and Serbia are united by centuries of friendship, shared Orthodox roots, and a common sense of justice. We see a strong and genuine interest among Serbian young people in cooperation and joint initiatives. They became an important part of international dialogue, brought a unique spirit to the World Youth Festival 2024 in Sirius, and formed the largest European delegation at the World Youth Festival Assembly. We actively support the personal and professional development of young people by involving them in educational programs offered through year-round youth education centers. We look forward to welcoming an equally large delegation at the International Festival of Youth 2026. The opening of the Youth Center is a logical next step, representing a transition from festival friendship to systematic project-based cooperation. Today, young people are gaining their own space in Belgrade where they can join Russian and international projects and receive support for their own initiatives,” said Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate.
The opening ceremony was attended by Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate, Alexander Konanikhin, representative of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Belgrade, Aleksandar Vranješ, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Republic of Serbia, Evgeny Baranov, Director of the Russian House in Belgrade, Leonid Drachevsky, Executive Director of the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund, Vladan Grbović, President of the Serbian RAGUSA NGO, and about 25 young activists.
“The opening of the Serbian center in Belgrade is not our first international project. The Gorchakov Fund has partner centers in Belarus and Georgia. At the same time, the establishment of this youth platform is a natural continuation of the work the Fund has been carrying out in the Balkans over the past 15 years. Above all, we see this project as an opportunity for Serbians with different views to engage in dialogue on a wide range of topics. It also creates opportunities for much closer development of Russian-Serbian youth relations. We see great potential in the Belgrade platform as a truly international platform, where representatives of different countries and continents are already meeting and, I hope, will continue to gather in even greater numbers to discuss the issues of the past, present, and future,” said Leonid Drachevsky, Executive Director of the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund.
Ragusa Hub is the first Russia-supported youth center in Europe. It is a modern multifunctional youth space designed for events and project activities. Here, young Serbians will be able to participate in joint events organized by the World Youth Festival Directorate and Ragusa, apply for internships with the Directorate, receive support for joint projects in fields ranging from creative industries and sports to volunteering and entrepreneurship, and gain assistance in establishing direct contacts with Russian universities and youth organizations.
“Inspired by the legacy of Sava Vladislavich-Raguzinsky, a diplomat who connected the Balkans, Russia, and China, Ragusa Hub was conceived as an open space for young people to exchange ideas and engage in international cooperation. We seek to strengthen Serbia’s ties with Russia and other BRICS+ countries, as well as with all those who share the values of equal cooperation and constructive dialogue. We hope that the hub will become a platform that brings young people together, facilitates the exchange of ideas, and supports joint projects,” said Vladan Grbović, President of the Serbian RAGUSA NGO.
The venue has already established itself as an international hub for young people. In March 2026, Ragusa Hub hosted the Balkans – BRICS+ International Media School. From June 2 to 6, it welcomed participants of the Balkan Dialogue 2026 academic and educational program.
“The idea behind Russia’s presence in this space is simple. I believe Russia must be different from the West in the Balkans. Above all, this means trusting the Serbian people. Unlike Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States, we are not opening a space that is based on dictating topics, formats, and objectives. What matters to us is that our venue becomes a focal point for Serbians, especially young people. We want it to foster the strengths of Serbian identity and highlight aspects of Serbia’s history, present, and future that have not defined themselves in opposition to Europe, but have instead served as a bridge, drawing strength from that role while preserving their unique character. We want our venue to be an open space where people can spend their time in an interesting and meaningful way,” said Ekaterina Entina, Professor at the Higher School of Economics and Co-Founder of Ragusa Hub.
During the opening ceremony, Dmitry Ivanov also held an open dialogue with Serbian youth. Participants discussed expanding academic exchanges, conducting joint research in the social sciences, and developing IT projects. Another important topic was the development of “meaningful tourism.” Dmitry Ivanov noted that 1,000 international participants of the upcoming International Festival of Youth will be able to explore the culture, history, and everyday life of Russia’s regions through a regional program covering 35 regions of the country, the Sirius Federal Territory, and the Republic of Abkhazia. Serbian students and young leaders expressed strong interest in launching specific projects with Russian partners, including exchange programs, workshops, regional trips, and joint research.
Overview:
The World Youth Festival took place in Sirius on March 1-7, 2024, 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.
In line with the Russian President’s instructions to preserve and further develop the legacy of the World Youth Festival, festival events are now held annually across the Russian Federation. In 2025, the World Youth Festival Assembly was held in Nizhny Novgorod, bringing together 2,000 young people from 120 countries. In 2026, the International Festival of Youth will welcome 10,000 participants. The next World Youth Festival for 20,000 participants will take place in 2030.
The World Youth Festival Directorate continues its work to strengthen international youth cooperation and develop a global community of young people committed to shaping a better future.