2025

Anniversary of the Great Victory

In the run-up to Victory Day celebrations, the Civic Chamber hosted events dedicated to identifying, promoting, and developing existing practices for implementing public projects aimed at the patriotic education of youth, including through their involvement in volunteer activities.

Thus, educational modules of the project "Volunteers: Mission 'Victory'" were implemented on the platform of the Civic Chamber. In particular, experts shared knowledge with young project participants on forming volunteer teams to carry out patriotic events in the year of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, building their own brand and promoting it in the media space, particularly on social networks. Experts also explained how to engage an audience with patriotic content and attract new participants to volunteer teams.

In May 2025, the Civic Chamber summarized the results of the "Our Victory" competition aimed at identifying best practices in the sphere of patriotic education. The competition involved over 550 authors from 63 constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Among the entries were original classroom hours and lessons of courage, interactive events, and engaging quizzes for children and teenagers. Competition winners were determined in categories such as "Immortal Feat," "INFOVICTORY," "Memory in the Heart, Memory in Stone," "Eyes on Victory!" and "Family. Victory. Memory." A ceremonial awards ceremony for the laureates of the open creative competition in fine and decorative arts "Children Draw Victory," dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, was also held at the Civic Chamber.

In total, the competition received over 13,500 works from participants aged two to eighteen.

An exhibition of the participants' works was opened in the lobby of the Civic Chamber building. At the exhibition's opening, it was emphasized that the children's drawing competition symbolizes the connection between times and generations, making Victory Day a living and important holiday for all Russians.

According to Civic Chamber's experts, there is a persistent deficit of truthful information online about the Great Patriotic War, the role of the USSR in the victory over Nazi Germany, and the tragedy of the civilian population of the USSR—victims of Nazi war crimes and their accomplices during the Great Patriotic War.

In February 2025, the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation launched the nationwide competition "No Statute of Limitations: VICTORY!" to present historical facts about the past to students in an age-appropriate, reliable, and emotionally considerate way. Participants—schoolchildren, students, and teachers—could submit their projects (presentations, videos, research) until April 19. This date was not chosen by chance: every year on April 19, Russia observes the Unified Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Genocide of the Soviet People committed by the Nazis and their accomplices during the Great Patriotic War. The competition results were summarized in June 2025 at a ceremony in the Civic Chamber, where the best authors were awarded.

In 2025, for the third consecutive year, the "No Statute of Limitations" center opened in the Civic Chamber building on April 19.

Here, commemorative events from the regions were broadcast in real time: rallies, remembrance lessons, visits to memorials. Participants shared stories about their fellow countrymen—victims of the war. The center also hosted discussions with historians, educators, and human rights defenders: they discussed how to properly preserve the memory of past tragedies and combat the distortion of facts.

In April, following tradition, volunteers for the "Immortal Regiment" campaign were trained on the Civic Chamber's platform, and the Civic Chamber itself initiated the project "Victory Forever!", within the framework of which members of the Civic Chamber read poems by Soviet poets from the Great Patriotic War era.

On June 29, 2025, with the support of the Civic Chamber, the Central Academic Theatre of the Russian Army became the venue for one of the most solemn events of the year—the Victory Ball, timed to coincide with the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. Over 150 dance pairs from 61 regions of Russia took part in the project—college students, cadets, veterans of combat operations, and participants of the special military operation (SMO). The audience included veterans, children of the war, and representatives of cultural and public organizations.

A special place among the Ball's honored guests was held by veterans who survived the occupation in the city of Klin during the Great Patriotic War: Galina Lyachina, Lyudmila Shcherbakova, and Lyudmila Shkudova.

Today, they are actively involved in supporting frontline soldiers and children from orphanages in the Lugansk People's Republic—knitting warm woolen socks The Victory Ball was the culmination of the spring series of balls held in 21 regions of the country.

Through the language of art, music, and dance, the youth expressed gratitude to the generations of victors, feeling a sense of belonging to the country's destiny.

The Civic Chamber participated in events dedicated to celebrating the anniversary of Victory not only in Russia but also abroad. Thus, for the Victory anniversary in Brazil, a series of concerts by Russian and Brazilian musicians was held, organized by the Civic Chamber with the participation of violinist and the Civic Chamber member Petr Lundstrem and tenor Mikhail Nor. Together with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the University of São Paulo and cellist André Micheletti under the direction of Maestro Rubens Ricciardi, the artists performed on April 29, 30, and May 3, 2025, in São Carlos, Ribeirão Preto, and Rio de Janeiro.

The audience was presented with a program aimed at preserving historical memory, featuring works by Russian and Brazilian composers, as well as songs from the war years.

The concerts gathered over two thousand spectators, and Petr Lundstrem conducted a series of masterclasses for students of the Music Faculty at the University of São Paulo. The project was initiated as part of systematic work to develop diplomatic relations between Russia and Latin America and was implemented with the support of the concert agency "KA22".

On May 5, 2025, in the capital of Panama, on the grounds of the Russian Orthodox Church, a memorial was unveiled in honor of the heroic feat of Soviet submariners during the Great Patriotic War.

The monument, erected near the Panama Canal, through which a group of Soviet submarines passed in 1942, completing an extremely difficult transit from the Pacific Ocean.

The first monument in Latin America to heroic submariners has been established, commemorating those who sailed into the Atlantic and later engaged in combat with the fascist fleet.

The initiative originated from the Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriot Organizations in Panama, and the work on the memorial itself spanned five years. The project was realized thanks to the Assembly of the Peoples of the World, Russian nonprofit organizations, and private benefactors. The Civic Chamber played a key role in completing the construction, successfully engaging local and Russian civil society activists and securing the necessary resources.

From August 30 to September 19, 2025, the All-Russian Children's Center "Ocean" in Vladivostok hosted its 10th session, which included 30 schoolchildren from Vietnam.

The trip was organized by the Civic Chamber as part of expanding cultural and humanitarian cooperation with the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

This was preceded by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation during the visit of a Civic Chamber delegation to Vietnam in September 2024.

The visit to "Ocean" was one of the first practical steps in implementing this document and received support from the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation.

The program included an introduction to Russian culture, history, folk arts, and language, as well as participation in events dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Public Monitoring of the Integration of Historical Regions

In accordance with the instruction of the President of the Russian Federation, issued following the meeting of the Head of State with members of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation and chairs of the civic chambers of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation on November 3, 2023, the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation continued comprehensive public monitoring of compliance by state authorities and local self-government bodies with the social rights of citizens during the integration of the Donetsk People's Republic, the Lugansk People's Republic, the Zaporozhye Oblast, and the Kherson Oblast into the economic, financial, credit, and legal systems of the Russian Federation, as well as into the system of state authorities of the Russian Federation.

The collection and analysis of information received by the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation revealed both positive practices and key challenges and problematic areas arising in the integration process that require additional attention from federal and regional state authorities.

The outcomes of this work indicate that the implemented measures have contributed to the formation of a sustainable mechanism for systematic feedback between civil society and state authorities, ensuring the openness and transparency of decisions made, and strengthening citizens' trust in state institutions.

The outcomes of the work demonstrate that the implemented initiatives have contributed to establishing a sustainable mechanism for systemic feedback between civil society and state authorities, ensuring the openness and transparency of decision-making, and strengthening public trust in state institutions.

Support for Participants of the Special Military Operation

In 2025, support for participants of the Special Military Operation (SMO) and their families remained one of the key areas of activity for the Civic Chamber.

Thus, in May 2025, a signing ceremony for an agreement was held at the Civic Chamber with the charitable foundation "Nashi sootechestvenniki" ("Our Compatriots") and the Dr. Dmitriev Revitalization Medical Center "SanProVi" to implement a pilot project for the rehabilitation, habilitation, and resocialization of persons discharged from the Armed Forces and other Russian security agencies, veterans of the SMO, and their family members.

The pilot project is based on the experience of implementing similar initiatives in the Lipetsk, Novosibirsk, and Chelyabinsk regions, as well as the Krasnodar Territory. The parties agreed to conduct seminars, round tables, and other events involving representatives of government structures, scientific and educational institutions, and the media.

Subsequently, in October 2025, as part of the agreement's implementation, a psychological training session titled "How to Adapt and Maintain Emotional Balance" was held for the wives and mothers of Special Military Operation participants.

During the initial stage of engagement with the training participants, specialists assessed the psychological state of patients who had lost a loved one or were experiencing a pathological fear of such a loss. The primary objective was to stabilize the emotional state of the project's participants.

In March, the "Za lyubov'" ("For Love") project was launched, aimed at providing comprehensive support to wives of special military operation participants who are expecting a child or are raising children under the age of three. The program's implementation includes support measures for discharge from the maternity hospital, assistance with older children under the "Sotsial'naya nyanya" ("Social Nanny") initiative, as well as the provision of psychological and moral support. In the future, there are plans to expand the range of services offered by introducing cleaning services.

Currently, 160 women are participants in the program.

First piloted in the Samara region, the "Za lyubov'" project has demonstrated sustained effectiveness and is gradually expanding its territorial coverage, now encompassing four additional regions of the Russian Federation.

Continuing the work to support and improve the living conditions of special military operation participants and their families, the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation conducted a public review of draft laws aimed at establishing social support measures for SMO participants and their families.

In particular, the Civic Chamber provided expert opinions following discussions on:

• A draft law amending certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation, which proposed granting the surviving spouse the right to temporarily use a vehicle owned by a person who died in connection with participation in the special military operation or in assisting in the execution of its tasks.
• A draft law amending Federal Law No. 5-FZ of January 12, 1995, "On Veterans," which proposes granting veteran and combat-invalid status to military personnel and other categories of citizens who participated in repelling the armed incursion and the SMO.
• A draft law simplifying the inheritance procedure for relatives of persons who died in connection with participation in the SMO, including the possibility of reinstating the deadline upon presentation of an official document.
• A draft law extending the right to preferential university tuition at the expense of budget funds not only to children but also to stepsons and stepdaughters who are dependents of SMO participants.

Protecting the Interests of NPOs

In 2025, developing and improving systemic support measures for nonprofit organizations (NPOs) remained among the Civic Chamber's priority areas. The Civic Chamber served as a platform for discussing draft federal law No  795117-8 "On Amending the Federal Law 'On Nonprofit Organizations,'" aimed at enabling the identification and authentication of NPOs' personal pages on social networks via the State Services portal. This initiative is expected to enhance public protection against social media fraud, increase trust in NPOs, and boost charitable activity.

In its review, the Civic Chamber highlighted risks that need to be mitigated before the bill's adoption.

Specifically, for small NPOs with limited resources, the identification process could prove complex and costly. Support mechanisms for such organizations must be considered. It is also crucial to guarantee the protection of personal data of NPOs and their representatives during authentication. Introducing new procedures may initially reduce NPOs' operational efficiency; therefore, reasonable deadlines for implementing the identification and authentication processes should be established.

The Civic Chamber also focused on the issue of NPOs registered at the residential addresses of their heads being charged as MSW owners. However, the vast majority of NPOs registered at residential premises generate minimal MSW, not exceeding typical household waste levels. The Civic Chamber proposed developing a nationwide mechanism to exempt such NPOs, whose activities generate minimal MSW, from entering into contracts with regional waste operators and paying MSW disposal fees.

Furthermore, to simplify NPO operations, the Civic Chamber appealed to the Russian Ministry of Justice requesting consideration of extending to NPOs the mechanism that exempts entrepreneurs from liability when they voluntarily rectify violations.

Large-Scale Rotation of Public Supervisory Commission Members

In 2025, another large-scale rotation of members occurred in Public Supervisory Commissions, with updates in 58 regions of the Russian Federation. Following tradition, the recruitment of new PSC members was preceded by informational-methodological seminars and public events organized by the Civic Chamber.

During the formation of the new PSC compositions, significant attention was paid to preserving and ensuring the continuity of the accumulated experience in human rights activities of PSC members. This is considered critically important for their effective exercise of authority, given the specific field of public oversight in which the Public Supervisory Commissions operate.

Scaling Up Public Oversight

In recent decades, Russia has seen active development in the practice of business companies publishing public nonfinancial reports on sustainable development.

These documents allow businesses to describe their contributions to improving the population's quality of life, enhancing their employees' working conditions, implementing environmental protection initiatives, and more.

To advance the institution of public oversight, the Civic Chamber has launched a tool for public verification of public nonfinancial reporting.

This tool ensures an objective assessment of the reliability of data provided by companies and offers expert analysis of the effectiveness of implemented programs.

The Russian Ministry of Economic Development officially recommends that Russian businesses undergo such independent expert review.

In 2025, four major companies presented their sustainability reports from the previous year for evaluation by the experts of the Coordinating Council of the Civic Chamber for Environmental Well-being and the Development of Public Nonfinancial Reporting Practices, authorized by the Civic Chamber's council to act as a public verifier, and its rating partner, the RAEX agency.

The first companies to demonstrate to the public this much-needed and valuable openness to dialog, as well as a commitment to ensuring transparency in their activities and improving their work towards achieving sustainable development goals, were the En+ Group, RUSAL, Polyus, and Renaissance Insurance.

"School of Public Oversight" Project

For the development of the public oversight institution, on May 19, 2025, the "Public Oversight School" project was launched on the platform of the Civic Chamber, representing a large-scale educational initiative.

The project's main goal is to form a "personnel" reserve of public inspectors capable of effectively monitoring the implementation of government decisions. Its objective is to increase the legal literacy of youth and involve them in the socio-political life of the country.

The organizers were the "Social Sphere" Foundation for the Development of Public Interaction and Social Communications and the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation. The initiative's author is Evgeny Martynov, Deputy Chairman of the Civic Chamber's Commission on Public Oversight and Work with Citizens' Appeals, and head of the "HealthControl" project.

The theoretical and practical modules of the school are conducted by well-known public and political figures, lawyers, human rights activists, representatives of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation, government bodies, and members of the Civic Chamber.

Thus, the project is a significant step in developing the public oversight system in Russia and confirmation that active youth are ready not just to observe but to act.

The Civic Chamber as a Platform for Developing Solutions to Prevent Environmental Damage

In early 2025, the Civic Chamber paid special attention to addressing the consequences of a major environmental disaster and developing systemic measures to protect the natural environment, dedicating a series of events to this issue.

In December 2024, a severe storm caused a leak and subsequent spill of petroleum products from the tankers ‘Volgoneft-239’ and ‘Volgoneft-212’. As a result, the waters of the Black Sea and beaches in the city of Anapa and other resort towns were polluted.

Thousands of volunteers from across the country participated in the cleanup efforts. The Civic Chamber's commissions on volunteerism and on ecology were actively involved in coordinating volunteer assistance.

To address this, a roundtable was held on January 31 titled "Ways to Improve the Efficiency of Petroleum Product Cleanup Operations at Sea and on Shore, and Measures to Mitigate Impact on Wildlife and the Region's Recreational Potential." The discussions focused on the technological, organizational, and legal aspects of emergency response, as well as the role of cooperation between the state, the expert community, and public organizations in minimizing environmental damage.

Subsequently, on March 5, another roundtable was convened on "Emergency Volunteer Assistance: The Role of Volunteers in Responding to the Petroleum Product Spill in the Black Sea and Improving the Efficiency of Organizing Their Work."

This event addressed issues of action coordination, skills enhancement, and safety assurance for volunteers involved in the cleanup following the accident involving the tankers ‘Volgoneft-212’ and ‘Volgoneft-239’ in the Kerch Strait on December 15, 2024. Based on the outcomes of these events, a set of recommendations was formulated. These cover areas such as improving the system of inter-agency cooperation, developing infrastructure for the long-term rehabilitation of affected ecosystems, and supporting and recognizing citizens who made significant contributions to mitigating the environmental damage.

Protecting Citizens Affected by Telephone and Internet Fraud

In 2024–2025, the Civic Chamber saw a sharp increase in appeals from citizens affected by telephone and internet fraud. In response, members of the Civic Chamber focused not only on educational and preventive measures, including awareness campaigns highlighting the potential dangers associated with the development of modern digital technologies, but also on providing direct legal assistance to citizens who have fallen victim to cybercriminals.

One of the effective practical tools for implementing these tasks has been organizing personal appointments for citizens affected by telephone and internet fraud, aimed at protecting their violated rights and providing legal and advisory support.

For instance, during these personal appointments, practical assistance was provided to applicants in restoring their violated rights. Corresponding inquiries were sent to prosecution authorities, resulting in procedural decisions to reopen investigations in criminal cases. Simultaneously, legal support was provided to citizens at the pre-trial stage: claims were prepared and sent to the credit institutions that issued loans to applicants who had been subjected to fraudulent activities.

This approach to work not only facilitated prompt responses to citizens' pressing problems but also served as an effective instrument for public oversight and the prevention of cybercrime.

Supporting Cultural Workers

For several years, the Civic Chamber has consistently advocated for the launch of a new program to help attract and retain specialists in the cultural sector in small towns and villages, which are home to a third of our country's population.

The meeting between Civic Chamber members and the President of Russia proved to be a true breakthrough on this issue: the President of Russia supported the request for the swift launch of the "Zemsky Cultural Worker" program and the allocation of necessary funds for its implementation.

The program officially commenced on January 1, 2025. Its main goal is to fill nine thousand vacant positions in the cultural sector across 87 constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

During the final "Community" forum, participants assessed the progress of the "Zemsky Cultural Worker" program and discussed ways to enhance its effectiveness. It was noted that over 1,000 vacancies are planned to be filled this year, with 982 cultural workers already having successfully passed the selection process and secured employment. It was also highlighted that the number of applications received exceeded the initially planned target. Specifically, while 1,138 applications were anticipated, a total of 1,345 applications were actually submitted.

Public Organizations Promote the Values of Physical Culture, Sports, and a Healthy Lifestyle

Throughout 2025, there was active development of new sports public organizations, including associations of sports clubs, leagues of sports societies, specialized public organizations, student sports leagues, student sports clubs, and others independent of the International Olympic Committee and similar international sports structures.

In 2025, public organizations showed increased participation in the Civic Chamber's international competition, "Best Practices for a Healthy Lifestyle." This year, over 10,000 civil society activists, as well as representatives of sports communities from China, Argentina, and Chile, submitted applications.

The main goal of the competition is to draw public attention to the importance of protecting citizens' health, and to collecting, sharing, and replicating the best Russian and global practices for preserving health and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Creating comfortable conditions for physical activity is facilitated by the federal project "Sport – the Norm of Life."

According to data from January 2025, over five years of the project's implementation, around 500 sports facilities have been built in Russia, hundreds of venues have been modernized, and tens of thousands of specialists have been trained.

Despite these official figures, the Civic Chamber continues to receive appeals from various regions of the Russian Federation regarding the state of sports infrastructure in different municipalities and regions. Consequently, despite the officially high percentage of sports facility provision in our cities, the actual public demand is significantly broader and more varied.

With the overarching goal of involving 70% of Russian citizens—or 93 million people of all ages and health groups—in regular physical activity by 2030, thereby making sport a norm of life, the public sector retains a leading and pivotal role in promoting the values of physical culture, sports, a healthy lifestyle, as well as mass and street sports.

"School of Dreams" Project

In August 2025, the third season of the federal "Dream School" project, launched in 2022 in support of the presidential program for capital repair of educational infrastructure "Modernization of School Education Systems," commenced. Since 2025, the program has been expanded to include preschools and secondary vocational education institutions.

In 2025, the "Dream School" project expanded its reach to 50 constituent entities of the Russian Federation, uniting over 1,200 students from 55 universities and 35 colleges. Starting this year, regional teams across the country are jointly addressing the important task of qualitatively updating not only school spaces but also preschools participating in the presidential program.

Furthermore, in October 2025, the II All-Russian Co-design Marathon was held—a significant stage of the federal educational project "Dream School." The work is based on the principle of co-design, which allows for the consideration of the wishes and needs of all participants in the educational process: students, pupils, teachers, parents, and school and preschool administrations.

Creative youth visited the schools and preschools participating in the project's third season to work together with all educational stakeholders to envision the future of educational and developmental spaces.

The project cycle will conclude with the III All-Russian "Dream School" Educational Space Design Competition. The best projects will be included in a database of best practices hosted on the Creative City HSE University website and recommended for implementation in regions across the Russian Federation.

Conclusion

Over two decades of its existence, the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation has transformed from a dialog platform into a stable institution of civil society, ensuring systematic citizen participation in state processes. The institutionalization of key forms of interaction among society, experts, and government has created a unique model of public participation, recognized internationally.

The established mechanisms of public participation cover a broad spectrum of issues—from social services and legislative activities to evaluating the implementation of state strategic initiatives.

Strengthening the network of public oversight entities at the regional level has created a unified space for public oversight from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok. This has ensured the openness of public administration and significantly increased citizens' trust in authorities at all levels.

The development of the nonprofit sector has turned civic initiative into a strategic social resource. Through institutionalized support for socially oriented NPOs, expanded access to state support measures, and participation in providing social services, the third sector has secured a prominent place in addressing pressing tasks—from rehabilitating participants of the Special Military Operation (SMO) to supporting large families and protecting vulnerable population groups. A special place in the activities of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation is held by public observation of the electoral process, which over two decades has evolved from an experimental practice into a stable institution of public oversight. It serves as a guarantee of transparency, legitimacy, and public trust in key electoral procedures in the country (the referendum on amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, elections of the President of the Russian Federation, deputies of the State Duma, etc.).

Today, the institution of public observation is legally enshrined, serves as a reliable bridge between the state and civil society, and ensures trust in the country's electoral system.

The Russian model of civic participation has gained international recognition. The Civic Chamber strengthens its influence in the international electoral process, articulating the stance of Russian civil society on democratic standards for organizing and holding elections. Established working ties with global and regional platforms, including AICESIS and BRICS, have allowed not only presenting domestic experience as an independent and sustainable practice but also shaping alternative agendas in humanitarian cooperation, sustainable development, and digital ethics.

Particularly significant is the work on integrating new territories. Establishing civil society institutions in the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, and the Zaporozhye and Kherson oblasts, is becoming the foundation not only for administrative but also for civilizational unity—by engaging residents in public initiatives, developing local communities, and forming a common civic identity.

Prospects for further development are seen in expanding digital tools for public oversight and increasing citizen engagement. An important direction will be integrating residents of new territories into the country's civic activities, as well as involving former SMO participants in shaping the new creative economies of the regions. Special attention will be paid to stimulating a proactive life stance among youth through awareness of their civic role.

Strengthening public diplomacy and exchanging humanitarian practices with partners in the Global South will become significant factors in developing international cooperation. These areas of work will ensure the further development of civil society as a crucial element of the democratic system and a mechanism for feedback between the state and society.

Thus, the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation continues to fulfill its mission—to unite society in dialog with the government to achieve systemic changes and fair solutions for all. In the face of new challenges, it remains a reliable pillar for constructive dialog and a guarantee that the voice of every citizen is heard and considered in the country's most important decisions.