Moscow (Shahid Ghumman): The third All-Russian Municipal Forum titled “Small Homeland – the Strength of Russia” was held in Moscow from April 20 to 22 at the National Centre “Russia” and has now concluded. Around seven thousand municipal representatives from across the country took part in the large-scale gathering.
A key feature of this year’s forum was the participation of foreign delegations from Abkhazia, Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, with more than 60 representatives in attendance. The guests discussed municipal diplomacy, exchange of administrative experience, and explored opportunities for humanitarian and cultural cooperation under the Sister Cities Forum.
The forum was organized by the All-Russian Association for the Development of Local Self-Government (VARMSU) with support from the Presidential Administration. Senior Russian officials also attended, including Dmitry Medvedev, Valentina Matviyenko, Marat Khusnullin, and Maxim Oreshkin. First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Sergey Kiriyenko described the work of municipal employees as a “selfless service to society.”
Ahead of Local Self-Government Day, 39 representatives from 30 regions of Russia were awarded state honors. The central event of the forum was the municipal award ceremony “Service,” which received more than 63,000 applications, while over 1.6 million citizens participated in public voting.
The grand “Service” awards ceremony was also held at the Live Arena, where Russian President Vladimir Putin attended as the chief guest. Mayors, municipal officials, senior government representatives, and international guests were also present.
For the first time, a special category titled “Unity of the Peoples of Russia – the Strength of the Country” was introduced, with the Kazan project “Unity in Diversity” receiving significant recognition. During the event, President Putin awarded Yevgeny Filonov from the Kaluga region in the category “Courage and Heroism in Service to the Motherland.”
In his address, President Putin stated that municipal institutions form the backbone of the state system, emphasizing that national achievements are built on unity and collective effort. He highlighted that local government officials are closest to public issues and play a vital role in serving citizens.
He further noted that Russia’s development should not be limited to major cities, but must extend equally to small towns and villages. He reaffirmed the commitment to strengthening the municipal system to ensure better public services across the country.
The forum and award ceremonies concluded with a strong emphasis on promoting best municipal practices to further strengthen national unity and development.
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