2022

Support for the Special Military Operation

The very next day after the start of the Special Military Operation, the Civic Chamber published an appeal titled "Together with the President and the Country!" expressing its unequivocal support for the actions and policy of President of Russia Vladimir Putin.

Within a few days, the appeal was signed by over 15,000 public figures, civil activists, and representatives of nonprofit organizations.

At the end of March, under the auspices of the nationwide #WeAreTogether campaign, a Public Humanitarian Aid Collection Center opened on the Civic Chamber's premises. The center became a coordination hub for interaction between citizens, foundations, and communities across the country. Thousands of tons of essential items and food passed through it, and, most importantly, a system of public aid based on trust and personal involvement was built.

Understanding that individual initiatives could not replace a full-fledged support infrastructure, the Civic Chamber, together with the civic chambers of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, launched the project "Support for Public Initiatives in the New Territories of Russia." The project was aimed at developing the nonprofit sector, creating resource centers, forming a partner database, and conducting training and methodological events. The Civic Chamber acted as the institutional operator, ensuring that every initiative in the new territories received support, development, and recognition.

Public Participation in Implementing Key State Policy Directions

In 2022, the Civic Chamber continued its work on key initiatives directly influencing the country's strategic course.

One of the key documents was Presidential Decree No. 809 of November 9, 2022, "On the Approval of the Fundamentals of State Policy for the Preservation and Strengthening of Traditional Russian Spiritual and Moral Values."

The final text incorporated the Civic Chamber's proposals on preserving human potential, protecting cultural sovereignty, and respecting religious diversity.

A significant step was the formation of a comprehensive family policy system: during discussions on the draft federal law on benefits for families with children, the Civic Chamber secured the inclusion of additional guarantees for large families and those in unstable labor market conditions.

These initiatives formed the basis of the May report by the State Council on family support.

Special attention was paid to youth upbringing and socialization. Civic Chamber's experts actively participated in the work to create the Russian Movement of Children and Youth ("Movement of the First"), proposing adjustments regarding goals, mentorship, and rules for involving schoolchildren. The corresponding federal law was signed by the President of Russia in July 2022.

Environmental issues also received attention. The Civic Chamber conducted public expert reviews of draft laws on environmental impact assessment and lands of specially protected natural areas, achieving the preservation of their legal regimes, including in the Baikal region.

Training Future PSC Members

The Civic Chamber launched a large-scale educational project for candidates to become members of Public Supervisory Commissions (PSCs). Its goal was to ensure the quality selection and training of citizens prepared to engage in human rights activities in places of forced detention.

The seminars became a platform where future PSC members gained knowledge about relevant legislation, the specifics of interacting with the penal system, and practical aspects of human rights protection.

An important part of the program involved meetings with representatives of the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN), the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD), prosecutor's offices, regional authorities, and human rights commissioners, which allowed for forming a comprehensive understanding of observers' tasks and responsibilities.

The project became an effective tool for strengthening the PSC institution, laying the groundwork for more professional and effective human rights work.

Forming a Unified Educational Space

On the Civic Chamber's platform, a public debate took place on forming a unified educational space that creates equal opportunities for the development and professional self-determination of every child.

Proposals from participants, voiced during public debate on the normative foundations of the Russian Movement of Children and Youth, the unified content standard for general education organization "School of the Russian Ministry of Education," and the concept of a unified line of school textbooks, formed the basis of the Civic Chamber's recommendations submitted to the Federal Assembly and the Russian Ministry of Education.

The Civic Chamber Led the International Dialog within AICESIS

In November 2021, the Civic Chamber was re-elected as the presiding organization of the International Association of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions (AICESIS), and its Secretary, L. Yu. Mikheeva, became the Association's President. The chairmanship's agenda was defined by two topics—"Life in the Online Era: New Challenges and the Search for Solutions" and updating the Association's Charter. Following the start of the Special Military Operation in 2022, the Civic Chamber came under pressure from a number of European AICESIS members who insisted on its removal. However, it managed to defend its right to preside and preserve a space for dialog, albeit with the temporary suspension of participation by some European councils. Key events included a discussion organized by the Civic Chamber at the UNCTAD forum on balancing national digital regulation and cross-border data flows (April 2022), L. Yu. Mikheeva's report "The Solidarity Social Economy" at the International Labor Conference in Geneva (May–June 2022), and participation in the UN ECOSOC High-Level Political Forum in New York (July 2022), where the civil society position on post-pandemic recovery and achieving sustainable development goals was presented.

In October 2022 in Rabat, at the General Assembly of the Union of Economic and Social Councils of Africa, the Civic Chamber confirmed its readiness for partnership with African colleagues and the exchange of successful civic participation practices.

Russia's chairmanship of AICESIS became an important tool for preserving international dialog and confirming the universality of the principles of solidarity, justice, and openness even in conditions of global turbulence.

Analytical Reports and the Establishment of the Center for Electoral Expertise

Since 2022, members of the Civic Chamber's international observation missions, upon completing work at elections abroad, have begun preparing official communiqués and analytical reports. These documents examine in detail the technical, legal, and administrative aspects of the electoral process. The reports include a description of the mission's mandate, its goals and legal framework, composition and methodology, schedule and itineraries, as well as the procedure for interaction with other international observers.