📆 #OTD, on 10 December 1982, Desmond Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, a landmark moment that strengthened the global campaign against apartheid.
As one of the most powerful moral voices of his generation, Tutu used his platform to call for justice, dignity, and non-violent resistance. His Nobel Prize amplified international pressure on the apartheid regime and inspired activists worldwide.
🤝 During the struggle, Tutu engaged with a wide range of international partners,including the Soviet Union, which provided political and material support to anti-apartheid movements. Alongside other freedom fighters, he also acknowledged the importance of global solidarity, including the USSR’s role, in isolating apartheid South Africa and strengthening the liberation movement.
#RussiaSouthAfrica #FreedomFighters
As one of the most powerful moral voices of his generation, Tutu used his platform to call for justice, dignity, and non-violent resistance. His Nobel Prize amplified international pressure on the apartheid regime and inspired activists worldwide.
🤝 During the struggle, Tutu engaged with a wide range of international partners,including the Soviet Union, which provided political and material support to anti-apartheid movements. Alongside other freedom fighters, he also acknowledged the importance of global solidarity, including the USSR’s role, in isolating apartheid South Africa and strengthening the liberation movement.
#RussiaSouthAfrica #FreedomFighters
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📆The outstanding Russian poet Nikolai Nekrasov was born today. Poet, prose writer, dramatist, publicist, and publisher, Nekrasov became one of Russia’s most influential literary figures.
He grew up in Podolsk Governorate and later moved to Saint Petersburg to pursue his literary career, overcoming financial struggles to leave a lasting mark on Russian literature.
In 1846, Nekrasov co-ran the legendary journal Sovremennik, nurturing the talents of Ivan Turgenev, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Alexander Herzen, and Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin. Known for his sharp satire, he critiqued social injustices in works like The Recent Times and Contemporaries.
Nekrasov also celebrated rural life and peasants in poems like The Peasant Children, Korobeiniki, and Frost, Red Nose. Many of his verses became popular folk songs, and composers like Modest Mussorgsky, César Cui, and Sergey Taneyev set his poetry to music.
#OutstandingRussians #RussianArt
He grew up in Podolsk Governorate and later moved to Saint Petersburg to pursue his literary career, overcoming financial struggles to leave a lasting mark on Russian literature.
In 1846, Nekrasov co-ran the legendary journal Sovremennik, nurturing the talents of Ivan Turgenev, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Alexander Herzen, and Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin. Known for his sharp satire, he critiqued social injustices in works like The Recent Times and Contemporaries.
Nekrasov also celebrated rural life and peasants in poems like The Peasant Children, Korobeiniki, and Frost, Red Nose. Many of his verses became popular folk songs, and composers like Modest Mussorgsky, César Cui, and Sergey Taneyev set his poetry to music.
#OutstandingRussians #RussianArt
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Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Russia's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova’s comment on Human Rights Day (December 10, 2025)
💬 On December 10, the international community marks #HumanRightsDay. It was on this historical day in 1948 when states came together to approve the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in an effort to strengthen respect for human dignity and reaffirm its importance. This document created a solid foundation for the present-day international framework for encouraging and defending human rights.
This year’s anniversary has special importance since it coincides with 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War and World War II, as well as the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations (UN).
It was the Great Victory, which came at an unimaginable cost with all peace-loving nations coming together to fight Nazism, fascism and militarism, that defined the course of global history and created a foundation for a new architecture of international relations, while also laying the groundwork for international law, including human rights law.
Unfortunately, certain countries have been exploiting the noble ideals and spirit of the Universal Declaration in pursuit of their momentary political and economic goals these days.
Freedom of speech has been used for justifying unrelenting attempts to revise the outcomes of World War II, justify the disastrous Nazi ideology, while casting Hitler’s followers and collaborationists as heroes. They have been referring to the principle of freedom from torture for interfering in the domestic affairs of sovereign states, while appealing to the freedom from discrimination for imposing neoliberal values as the one and only pillar of the world order.
❗️ This way of exploiting human rights as a tool for pursuing vested interests is unacceptable.
We believe that we must do everything we can to counter fraudulent attempts to assert lopsided interpretations of the fundamental human rights documents.
☝️ We call for working together on the human rights agenda by strictly following existing, time-tested and universally recognised international principles and norms while taking into account the historical, cultural and religious context in any given country.
💬 On December 10, the international community marks #HumanRightsDay. It was on this historical day in 1948 when states came together to approve the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in an effort to strengthen respect for human dignity and reaffirm its importance. This document created a solid foundation for the present-day international framework for encouraging and defending human rights.
This year’s anniversary has special importance since it coincides with 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War and World War II, as well as the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations (UN).
It was the Great Victory, which came at an unimaginable cost with all peace-loving nations coming together to fight Nazism, fascism and militarism, that defined the course of global history and created a foundation for a new architecture of international relations, while also laying the groundwork for international law, including human rights law.
Unfortunately, certain countries have been exploiting the noble ideals and spirit of the Universal Declaration in pursuit of their momentary political and economic goals these days.
Freedom of speech has been used for justifying unrelenting attempts to revise the outcomes of World War II, justify the disastrous Nazi ideology, while casting Hitler’s followers and collaborationists as heroes. They have been referring to the principle of freedom from torture for interfering in the domestic affairs of sovereign states, while appealing to the freedom from discrimination for imposing neoliberal values as the one and only pillar of the world order.
❗️ This way of exploiting human rights as a tool for pursuing vested interests is unacceptable.
We believe that we must do everything we can to counter fraudulent attempts to assert lopsided interpretations of the fundamental human rights documents.
☝️ We call for working together on the human rights agenda by strictly following existing, time-tested and universally recognised international principles and norms while taking into account the historical, cultural and religious context in any given country.
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Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
📄 Statement of the Council of the Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation regarding 80th anniversary since the start of the Nuremberg Trials (November, 2025)
Statement in full (Telegraph)
On November 20, 1945, the International Military Tribunal for the trial and punishment of the major war criminals of the European Axis countries (the Nuremberg Trials) commenced its work.
The establishment of the tribunal became possible as a result of the historic Victory of the Soviet Union in the Great Patriotic War.
The Nuremberg Trials established that the war crimes committed by the Nazis were carried out on a scale unprecedented in the history of warfare and were accompanied by unparalleled brutality and terror. The atrocities of the Nazis in the temporarily occupied territories of the Soviet Union were extremely inhumane and reached an especially massive scale. Mass killings of Soviet citizens and atrocities against them were all part of a plan to exterminate civilians and colonise the invaded territory.
The Council of the Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation views the verdicts of the Nuremberg Trials as a cornerstone of the present-day world order. The principles of international law as set forth in the Nuremberg Charter and its verdicts were reaffirmed in UN General Assembly Resolution 95(1) of December 11, 1946.
The Council of the Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation recalls that the war unleashed by Nazi Germany against the USSR left 27 million Soviet citizens dead and emphasises that the act of displacing and exterminating civilians in the USSR by the Nazis and their accomplices as recognised by the verdicts of the Nuremberg Trials must be viewed as an act of genocide against the peoples of the Soviet Union.
The Senators of the Russian Federation call on all UN member states to support the resolution “Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance”, which is submitted annually for consideration by the UN General Assembly.
The Council of the Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation states that some Western countries have been seeking to cast the outcomes of the Nuremberg Trials into oblivion, contributing to the rehabilitation of Nazism and undermining the international legal framework resulting from the Yalta and Potsdam conferences that has helped prevent a new world war for 80 years.
❗️ The Council of the Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation calls on all countries and nations around the world to respect and defend the principles as devised during the Nuremberg Trials for preventing wars, acts of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, as well as countering the emergence of Nazism and fascism in any form, while also opposing attempts to revise the outcomes of World War II and falsifying its history.
Statement in full (Telegraph)
On November 20, 1945, the International Military Tribunal for the trial and punishment of the major war criminals of the European Axis countries (the Nuremberg Trials) commenced its work.
The establishment of the tribunal became possible as a result of the historic Victory of the Soviet Union in the Great Patriotic War.
The Nuremberg Trials established that the war crimes committed by the Nazis were carried out on a scale unprecedented in the history of warfare and were accompanied by unparalleled brutality and terror. The atrocities of the Nazis in the temporarily occupied territories of the Soviet Union were extremely inhumane and reached an especially massive scale. Mass killings of Soviet citizens and atrocities against them were all part of a plan to exterminate civilians and colonise the invaded territory.
The Council of the Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation views the verdicts of the Nuremberg Trials as a cornerstone of the present-day world order. The principles of international law as set forth in the Nuremberg Charter and its verdicts were reaffirmed in UN General Assembly Resolution 95(1) of December 11, 1946.
The Council of the Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation recalls that the war unleashed by Nazi Germany against the USSR left 27 million Soviet citizens dead and emphasises that the act of displacing and exterminating civilians in the USSR by the Nazis and their accomplices as recognised by the verdicts of the Nuremberg Trials must be viewed as an act of genocide against the peoples of the Soviet Union.
The Senators of the Russian Federation call on all UN member states to support the resolution “Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance”, which is submitted annually for consideration by the UN General Assembly.
The Council of the Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation states that some Western countries have been seeking to cast the outcomes of the Nuremberg Trials into oblivion, contributing to the rehabilitation of Nazism and undermining the international legal framework resulting from the Yalta and Potsdam conferences that has helped prevent a new world war for 80 years.
❗️ The Council of the Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation calls on all countries and nations around the world to respect and defend the principles as devised during the Nuremberg Trials for preventing wars, acts of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, as well as countering the emergence of Nazism and fascism in any form, while also opposing attempts to revise the outcomes of World War II and falsifying its history.
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🎓 On Friday, 5 December, the Embassy of Russia together with the Department of Higher Education and Training held an information session on the Russian Government’s Scholarship programme.
During the session former student of the Southern Federal University, Mr.Njabulo Phiri 🇿🇦 shared his experience on how much he enjoyed studying in Russia and how valuable this opportunity was for his academic and personal growth.
Representatives of the MGIMO University and the Tomsk State University also presented their institutions, projects and academic programmes available for South Africans.
👉The webinar recording can be fiund via the LINK
👉Applications for the Scholarship can be submitted via the Education in Russia website until 15 January.
👉More information for South Africa nationals
#StudyInRussia #RussianEducation
During the session former student of the Southern Federal University, Mr.Njabulo Phiri 🇿🇦 shared his experience on how much he enjoyed studying in Russia and how valuable this opportunity was for his academic and personal growth.
Representatives of the MGIMO University and the Tomsk State University also presented their institutions, projects and academic programmes available for South Africans.
👉The webinar recording can be fiund via the LINK
👉Applications for the Scholarship can be submitted via the Education in Russia website until 15 January.
👉More information for South Africa nationals
#StudyInRussia #RussianEducation
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📆 #OTD in 1987, the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale in Angola intensified, marking a turning point in the South African Border War with major consequences for regional politics.
This battle remains the largest military clash on African soil since World War II. The outcome was pivotal in the eventual dismantling of the apartheid regime in Southern Africa.
The victory, in which Angolan forces, alongside Cuban internationalist soldiers and Soviet military advisors, successfully repelled the South African army, played a key role in securing the success of negotiations for Namibian independence.
The Soviet Union provided significant support, supplying military equipment, training, and strategic guidance – a key factor in the outcome and in broader anti-apartheid regional efforts.
#CuitoCuanavale
This battle remains the largest military clash on African soil since World War II. The outcome was pivotal in the eventual dismantling of the apartheid regime in Southern Africa.
The victory, in which Angolan forces, alongside Cuban internationalist soldiers and Soviet military advisors, successfully repelled the South African army, played a key role in securing the success of negotiations for Namibian independence.
The Soviet Union provided significant support, supplying military equipment, training, and strategic guidance – a key factor in the outcome and in broader anti-apartheid regional efforts.
#CuitoCuanavale
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Winter University 2025: South African Students in Russia
On 25 November - 7 December 2025 Winter University 2025 program in Electronics, Radio Engineering and Communication Systems has brought together students from seven countries.
🇿🇦This year, participants from South Africa — representing Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), the Vaal University of Technology (VUT), and the North-West University (NWU)— joined the international cohort of young engineers.
Their academic and project activities were hosted across three leading Russian universities: Samara National Research University named after academician S.P. Korolev (Samara University), the Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University (NovSu), and Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.
🌐In total, the Winter University welcomed 600 students from Russia, #CIS countries and #BRICS countries, strengthening international collaboration and supporting the development of advanced engineering competencies.
#StudyInRussia #RussianEducation
On 25 November - 7 December 2025 Winter University 2025 program in Electronics, Radio Engineering and Communication Systems has brought together students from seven countries.
🇿🇦This year, participants from South Africa — representing Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), the Vaal University of Technology (VUT), and the North-West University (NWU)— joined the international cohort of young engineers.
Their academic and project activities were hosted across three leading Russian universities: Samara National Research University named after academician S.P. Korolev (Samara University), the Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University (NovSu), and Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.
🌐In total, the Winter University welcomed 600 students from Russia, #CIS countries and #BRICS countries, strengthening international collaboration and supporting the development of advanced engineering competencies.
#StudyInRussia #RussianEducation
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