🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at the first Ministerial Conference of the International Organisation for the Russian Language (Moscow, March 11, 2026)
💬 Sergey Lavrov: We are holding the first Ministerial Conference of the International Organisation for the Russian Language (#IORL). Allow me to declare it open. <...>
Indeed, the Russian language – rich, powerful and multifaceted – is our precious shared heritage, as the President of Russia has rightly noted. It is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, including in the digital domain, where it ranks second after English in terms of the number of websites and social media channels.
Russian is an official or working language of a number of international organisations, including the United Nations. It plays a major constructive role in bringing together the peoples of the Eurasian space and in deepening creative, scientific and academic exchanges.
Strengthening the positions of the Russian language in the world is, without exaggeration, a guarantee of preserving the planet’s cultural and civilisational diversity and an important contribution to the formation of a more just multipolar world order.
In this context, I would like once again, on behalf of the Russian Federation, to express sincere appreciation to President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who in December 2021 put forward the initiative to establish an organisation dedicated to promoting the Russian language.
The relevant treaty, signed in October 2023 by the leaders of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, entered into force at the end of 2024. This is undoubtedly a landmark event for our countries and, naturally, for all those who know, value and cherish the language of Alexander Pushkin and Leo Tolstoy, as well as the great Russian culture built upon it.
We see the International Organisation for the Russian Language as an independent multilateral entity. Its core objectives include: enhancing international cooperation in support of the Russian language based on the principles of friendship, trust, good-neighbourliness and interethnic harmony, as well as fostering dialogue among scholars and writers around the world.
🤝 At the same time, the Organisation is open to all interested states, both in Eurasia and on other continents. I would stress that this was particularly emphasised when President Tokayev first proposed the initiative.
In my view, it is important that the International Organisation for the Russian Language combine, in its work, the traditional and well-established instruments of multilateral cooperation with modern approaches capable of engaging the younger generation in our countries.
Among the priorities on the agenda are promoting the Organisation’s international standing and helping to establish its external partnerships.
A special role in these efforts will be played by the Secretariat of the International Organisation for the Russian Language. Today, we are to approve the leadership of the Secretariat.
I trust that all of us will provide it with the full support it requires.
<...>
Nearly two and a half years have passed since the treaty was signed, and I would like to acknowledge the extensive work carried out during this period by experts from our countries, including those from the ministries of education, science, innovation, and foreign affairs.
Today we are submitting for your consideration draft documents agreed upon by the experts, which will create the legal foundation for the Organisation’s practical work to begin as early as this April.
<...>
The Foreign Ministry will actively support the Secretariat’s work, while understanding that over time the primary role of the Russian Federation in this organisation will gradually transition to the Russian Ministry of Education and Science.
Today we had a very fruitful session: we established the organisation’s structure and fulfilled our heads of state’s instructions.
Read in full
🗓 On March 11, Moscow hostedthe first Ministerial Conference of the International Organisation for the Russian Language (#IORL), established under the relevant Agreement signed by the presidents of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
The conference was opened by Russia's Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov.
✉️ President of Russia Vladimir Putin sent a message of greetings to participants in the Ministerial Conference, whose attendants included heads of educational and foreign policy agencies of the member states.
✍️ The participants signed documents required for the IORL to start its operations and establish its Secretariat, and elected its Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General.
Participants held an in-depth exchange of views on issues related to the organisation’s activities and promising focus areas.
🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at the first Ministerial Conference of the International Organisation for the Russian Language (Moscow, March 11, 2026)
💬 Sergey Lavrov: We are holding the first Ministerial Conference of the International Organisation for the Russian Language (#IORL). Allow me to declare it open. <...>
Indeed, the Russian language – rich, powerful and multifaceted – is our precious shared heritage, as the President of Russia has rightly noted. It is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, including in the digital domain, where it ranks second after English in terms of the number of websites and social media channels.
Russian is an official or working language of a number of international organisations, including the United Nations. It plays a major constructive role in bringing together the peoples of the Eurasian space and in deepening creative, scientific and academic exchanges.
Strengthening the positions of the Russian language in the world is, without exaggeration, a guarantee of preserving the planet’s cultural and civilisational diversity and an important contribution to the formation of a more just multipolar world order.
In this context, I would like once again, on behalf of the Russian Federation, to express sincere appreciation to President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who in December 2021 put forward the initiative to establish an organisation dedicated to promoting the Russian language.
The relevant treaty, signed in October 2023 by the leaders of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, entered into force at the end of 2024. This is undoubtedly a landmark event for our countries and, naturally, for all those who know, value and cherish the language of Alexander Pushkin and Leo Tolstoy, as well as the great Russian culture built upon it.
We see the International Organisation for the Russian Language as an independent multilateral entity. Its core objectives include: enhancing international cooperation in support of the Russian language based on the principles of friendship, trust, good-neighbourliness and interethnic harmony, as well as fostering dialogue among scholars and writers around the world.
🤝 At the same time, the Organisation is open to all interested states, both in Eurasia and on other continents. I would stress that this was particularly emphasised when President Tokayev first proposed the initiative.
In my view, it is important that the International Organisation for the Russian Language combine, in its work, the traditional and well-established instruments of multilateral cooperation with modern approaches capable of engaging the younger generation in our countries.
Among the priorities on the agenda are promoting the Organisation’s international standing and helping to establish its external partnerships.
A special role in these efforts will be played by the Secretariat of the International Organisation for the Russian Language. Today, we are to approve the leadership of the Secretariat.
I trust that all of us will provide it with the full support it requires.
<...>
Nearly two and a half years have passed since the treaty was signed, and I would like to acknowledge the extensive work carried out during this period by experts from our countries, including those from the ministries of education, science, innovation, and foreign affairs.
Today we are submitting for your consideration draft documents agreed upon by the experts, which will create the legal foundation for the Organisation’s practical work to begin as early as this April.
<...>
The Foreign Ministry will actively support the Secretariat’s work, while understanding that over time the primary role of the Russian Federation in this organisation will gradually transition to the Russian Ministry of Education and Science.
Today we had a very fruitful session: we established the organisation’s structure and fulfilled our heads of state’s instructions.
Read in full
🗓 On March 11, Moscow hostedthe first Ministerial Conference of the International Organisation for the Russian Language (#IORL), established under the relevant Agreement signed by the presidents of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
The conference was opened by Russia's Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov.
✉️ President of Russia Vladimir Putin sent a message of greetings to participants in the Ministerial Conference, whose attendants included heads of educational and foreign policy agencies of the member states.
✍️ The participants signed documents required for the IORL to start its operations and establish its Secretariat, and elected its Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General.
Participants held an in-depth exchange of views on issues related to the organisation’s activities and promising focus areas.