🦋 On November 27, Moscow hosted the inaugural Nikita Mikhalkov Eurasian Film Awards, bringing together filmmakers from 17 countries across Eurasia, Africa, Asia, and beyond.
A total of 34 films competed in 12 categories, celebrating the diversity and richness of national cinemas committed to universal human values. Winners received the prestigious “Diamond Butterfly” statuettes, crafted in Kostroma, along with rare Yakutian diamonds.
🏆Among the international winners was South African screenwriter Carol Shore, who received the Best Screenplay Award for Old Righteous Blues.
🤩The Embassy congratulates Carol Shore and her team for their outstanding craftsmanship, creative vision, and meaningful contribution to global storytelling. Her recognition highlights the strength of South African writing and affirms the award’s mission to elevate authentic, compassionate voices.
#DiamondButterfly
A total of 34 films competed in 12 categories, celebrating the diversity and richness of national cinemas committed to universal human values. Winners received the prestigious “Diamond Butterfly” statuettes, crafted in Kostroma, along with rare Yakutian diamonds.
🏆Among the international winners was South African screenwriter Carol Shore, who received the Best Screenplay Award for Old Righteous Blues.
🤩The Embassy congratulates Carol Shore and her team for their outstanding craftsmanship, creative vision, and meaningful contribution to global storytelling. Her recognition highlights the strength of South African writing and affirms the award’s mission to elevate authentic, compassionate voices.
#DiamondButterfly
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Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
📸 #PhotoOfTheDay
The official #FamilyPhoto ceremony with the participation of FM Sergey Lavrov and African nations' Ministers & representatives was held ahead of the Plenary Session of the Second Ministerial Conference of the #RussiaAfrica Partnership Forum
📍 Cairo, December 20
#RussiaAfrica
The official #FamilyPhoto ceremony with the participation of FM Sergey Lavrov and African nations' Ministers & representatives was held ahead of the Plenary Session of the Second Ministerial Conference of the #RussiaAfrica Partnership Forum
📍 Cairo, December 20
#RussiaAfrica
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🇷🇺🤝🇿🇦On 17 December, the annual meeting of the Russia – South Africa Business Council was held at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation in Moscow, with the participation of representatives of relevant government authorities and business communities of the two countries.
The meeting focused on the issues of bilateral trade and economic cooperation and resulted in the adoption of plans for the Business Council’s further joint work.
💬In his video address to the participants, Ambassador of Russia to South Africa Roman Ambarov noted that bilateral economic ties are characterised by substantial untapped potential, the realisation of which is capable of providing a solid foundation for the gradual strengthening of multifaceted cooperation in the spirit of our historically strategic partnership.
#RussiaSouthAfrica
The meeting focused on the issues of bilateral trade and economic cooperation and resulted in the adoption of plans for the Business Council’s further joint work.
💬In his video address to the participants, Ambassador of Russia to South Africa Roman Ambarov noted that bilateral economic ties are characterised by substantial untapped potential, the realisation of which is capable of providing a solid foundation for the gradual strengthening of multifaceted cooperation in the spirit of our historically strategic partnership.
#RussiaSouthAfrica
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🇷🇺🤝🇿🇦17 декабря в Торгово-промышленной палате Российской Федерации в Москве состоялось годовое заседание Делового совета «Россия – ЮАР», в котором приняли участие представители профильных ведомств и деловых кругов двух стран.
В ходе мероприятия были рассмотрены вопросы двустороннего торгово-экономического сотрудничества, а также сформированы планы дальнейшей совместной работы Делового совета.
Посол России в ЮАР Р.Е.Амбаров в своем видеообращении к участникам заседания отметил, что российско-южноафриканские экономические связи характеризуются значительным потенциалом, раскрытие которого способно заложить прочную основу для поступательного укрепления многопланового взаимодействия в духе исторически сложившегося стратегического партнерства.
#РоссияЮАР
В ходе мероприятия были рассмотрены вопросы двустороннего торгово-экономического сотрудничества, а также сформированы планы дальнейшей совместной работы Делового совета.
Посол России в ЮАР Р.Е.Амбаров в своем видеообращении к участникам заседания отметил, что российско-южноафриканские экономические связи характеризуются значительным потенциалом, раскрытие которого способно заложить прочную основу для поступательного укрепления многопланового взаимодействия в духе исторически сложившегося стратегического партнерства.
#РоссияЮАР
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Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at the meeting of the United Russia General Council’s Commission on International Cooperation (Moscow, December 18, 2025)
💬 Sergey Lavrov: One of the most egregious forms of neo-colonialism is interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states. The West has never relinquished these methods, though they have evolved and become more superficially acceptable. Their essence, however, remains unchanged: to prosper at others’ expense and to dictate how other nations should organise their governance and societies.
The tools employed include coercive pressure, direct military intervention, orchestrating so-called colour revolutions, and covert (and at times overt) interference in electoral processes – attempting to manipulate the free expression of citizens’ will and to dispute election results across a wide array of countries. Today, what we may rightly term “electoral neo-colonialism” poses a very real threat to the nations of the Global Majority. <...>
To discredit and falsify elections (when their outcomes do not suit the West and align with the aspirations of Western elites), a whole arsenal of unscrupulous methods is deployed. These include funding so-called “independent” (in reality, pro-Western) media, brazenly promoting false narratives, aggressively backing Western-favoured candidates regardless of their meagre domestic popularity, and manipulating international observation mechanisms. Biased assessments of election results are then laundered through structures like the OSCE/ODIHR [Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights] observation missions and presented as the “opinion of the international community.” <...>
All our efforts undertaken since the end of the 1990s and focused on the election factor to reach an agreement on drafting a provision regulating the operation of the ODIHR, primarily in election monitoring, which was to be adopted by consensus at the OSCE, have been rejected by the West. <...>
I was shocked by the “candour” of EU politicians when European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen publicly cautioned US President Trump against interfering in European democracy a week ago: “It is not on us, when it comes to elections, to decide who the leader of the country will be, but on the people of this country. That’s the sovereignty of the voters, and this must be protected. Nobody else is supposed to interfere, without any question.”
🤷♂️ Everyone remembers how it happened in Romania and Moldova, yet these people do not hesitate to make such “statements.”
As for election technologies, our country has been in the spotlight and under the gaze of Western geopolitical spin-doctors. We saw an unprecedented number of attempts at meddling during the Russian Federation’s presidential election in March 2024, unprecedented in the variety of forms and sophistication of methods. A wide variety of methods were actively used. The ill-wishers, who stood behind them, were attempting to discredit the free expression of people’s will and call into question its legitimacy and conformity to law. More than that, this was the case at all stages of the election campaign, from its announcement, or maybe even earlier, to the official designation of timeframes, to the nomination period, to the registration of nominees, to the polling days, and to the election count. <...>
We need to counterpose the multiplicity of democratic forms of statehood and organisation of society with what Europeans are attempting to impose on the rest of the world through their neoliberal agenda.
The fact that the United States no longer desires such democracy as it is understood in Europe is a serious indicator. Not long ago, US President Donald Trump, commenting on the Ukraine situation, advised Zelensky not to trample on democracy and to hold elections.
Read in full
💬 Sergey Lavrov: One of the most egregious forms of neo-colonialism is interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states. The West has never relinquished these methods, though they have evolved and become more superficially acceptable. Their essence, however, remains unchanged: to prosper at others’ expense and to dictate how other nations should organise their governance and societies.
The tools employed include coercive pressure, direct military intervention, orchestrating so-called colour revolutions, and covert (and at times overt) interference in electoral processes – attempting to manipulate the free expression of citizens’ will and to dispute election results across a wide array of countries. Today, what we may rightly term “electoral neo-colonialism” poses a very real threat to the nations of the Global Majority. <...>
To discredit and falsify elections (when their outcomes do not suit the West and align with the aspirations of Western elites), a whole arsenal of unscrupulous methods is deployed. These include funding so-called “independent” (in reality, pro-Western) media, brazenly promoting false narratives, aggressively backing Western-favoured candidates regardless of their meagre domestic popularity, and manipulating international observation mechanisms. Biased assessments of election results are then laundered through structures like the OSCE/ODIHR [Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights] observation missions and presented as the “opinion of the international community.” <...>
All our efforts undertaken since the end of the 1990s and focused on the election factor to reach an agreement on drafting a provision regulating the operation of the ODIHR, primarily in election monitoring, which was to be adopted by consensus at the OSCE, have been rejected by the West. <...>
I was shocked by the “candour” of EU politicians when European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen publicly cautioned US President Trump against interfering in European democracy a week ago: “It is not on us, when it comes to elections, to decide who the leader of the country will be, but on the people of this country. That’s the sovereignty of the voters, and this must be protected. Nobody else is supposed to interfere, without any question.”
🤷♂️ Everyone remembers how it happened in Romania and Moldova, yet these people do not hesitate to make such “statements.”
As for election technologies, our country has been in the spotlight and under the gaze of Western geopolitical spin-doctors. We saw an unprecedented number of attempts at meddling during the Russian Federation’s presidential election in March 2024, unprecedented in the variety of forms and sophistication of methods. A wide variety of methods were actively used. The ill-wishers, who stood behind them, were attempting to discredit the free expression of people’s will and call into question its legitimacy and conformity to law. More than that, this was the case at all stages of the election campaign, from its announcement, or maybe even earlier, to the official designation of timeframes, to the nomination period, to the registration of nominees, to the polling days, and to the election count. <...>
We need to counterpose the multiplicity of democratic forms of statehood and organisation of society with what Europeans are attempting to impose on the rest of the world through their neoliberal agenda.
The fact that the United States no longer desires such democracy as it is understood in Europe is a serious indicator. Not long ago, US President Donald Trump, commenting on the Ukraine situation, advised Zelensky not to trample on democracy and to hold elections.
Read in full
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🤩 No Russian New Year table is complete without iconic dishes: Olivier salad, Herring Under a Fur Coat, and kholodets (meat aspic).
🥗 Herring Under a Fur Coat is a layered salad of herring, potatoes, carrots, beets, eggs, and lots of mayo — loved in Russia, surprising to foreigners.
🥗 Olivier Salad. This Russian masterpiece has become more than just a dish, it symbolizes friendship, and people love to share it with their loved ones. The salad was invented in the 1860s by French chef Lucien Olivier, who worked at a fancy Hermitage restaurant in Moscow. He made his salad, using luxurious ingredients such as grouse, crayfish and a special dressing. Today, Olivier salad is enjoyed around the world, especially during festive feasts, and different countries have their own recipes.
🥗 Kholodets. The name of the dish comes from the word ‘kholod’ (‘cold’). In fact, it's just meat soaked in a broth of bones and cartilage. It should be so thick that it turns into natural gelatin when it cools down.
#NewYear2026
🥗 Herring Under a Fur Coat is a layered salad of herring, potatoes, carrots, beets, eggs, and lots of mayo — loved in Russia, surprising to foreigners.
🥗 Olivier Salad. This Russian masterpiece has become more than just a dish, it symbolizes friendship, and people love to share it with their loved ones. The salad was invented in the 1860s by French chef Lucien Olivier, who worked at a fancy Hermitage restaurant in Moscow. He made his salad, using luxurious ingredients such as grouse, crayfish and a special dressing. Today, Olivier salad is enjoyed around the world, especially during festive feasts, and different countries have their own recipes.
🥗 Kholodets. The name of the dish comes from the word ‘kholod’ (‘cold’). In fact, it's just meat soaked in a broth of bones and cartilage. It should be so thick that it turns into natural gelatin when it cools down.
#NewYear2026
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Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
📄 JOINT STATEMENT by the Participants in the Second Ministerial Conference of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum (Cairo, December 20, 2025)
✍️ We, the Foreign Ministers of the Russian Federation and the African States recognised by the UN, the Leadership of the African Union Commission and the executive bodies of the leading African integration organisations, as well as their representatives:
• We are pleased to note the strategic level of Africa-Russia cooperation and the dynamic implementation of the agreements enshrined in the final documents of the First (Sochi, 23–24 October 2019) and Second (Saint Petersburg, 27–28 July 2023) Russia–Africa Summits, including the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum Action Plan 2023–2026.
• We express our willingness to proceed with the preparation of the next Action Plan for 2026–2029 aiming at its adoption at the third Russia–Africa Summit.
• We reconfirm the shared responsibility of African States and Russia to promote a just and stable world based on the principles of sovereign equality of States, non-interference in their internal affairs, respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the right of all peoples to self-determination as provided for, inter alia, by UN General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 79/115 of 4 December 2024.
Political Cooperation
• We acknowledge the intense dynamics of political engagement between Russia and African States, including at the high and highest levels, and welcome the expansion of mutual diplomatic presence.
• We advocate for cooperative, rather than confrontational relations. We recognize the value of diverse multilateral platforms, including BRICS, in promoting a more inclusive and representative system of global governance.
• We reaffirm our commitment to further facilitating, on a bilateral basis, of conditions for reciprocal travels between Russia and African States, in particular to increase business, education, cultural, tourist and other people-to-people exchanges.
Security Cooperation
• We call on the world community to consolidate political and diplomatic efforts aimed at overall reduction of tensions, peaceful resolution of ongoing conflicts and prevention of new crises as well as ensuring lasting and comprehensive global and regional stability.
• We advocate for compliance with international law and reject any approaches threatening stability in Africa. We emphasise the importance of respecting the universal Africa-led solutions, with partners supporting where appropriate and deplore the involvement of external actors in fuelling conflicts in Africa.
• We reaffirm our commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, its financing and providing of safe havens to terrorists.
Trade and Economic Cooperation
• We acknowledge the positive dynamics in mutual trade between the Russian Federation and African States, despite the unilateral coercive measures in force. Given the potential of Russia–Africa trade and economic cooperation, we reaffirm our shared commitment to significantly increase and diversify its scale.
• We underscore the importance of expanding the participation of Russian companies in Africa, including through cooperation focused on establishing and strengthening manufacturing and industrial capabilities.
• We reaffirm our determination to enhance interaction in the fuel and energy industries and in the field of critical raw minerals essential for just and balanced energy transition, particularly on the African continent.
Read the full statement: Part I / Part II
✍️ We, the Foreign Ministers of the Russian Federation and the African States recognised by the UN, the Leadership of the African Union Commission and the executive bodies of the leading African integration organisations, as well as their representatives:
• We are pleased to note the strategic level of Africa-Russia cooperation and the dynamic implementation of the agreements enshrined in the final documents of the First (Sochi, 23–24 October 2019) and Second (Saint Petersburg, 27–28 July 2023) Russia–Africa Summits, including the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum Action Plan 2023–2026.
• We express our willingness to proceed with the preparation of the next Action Plan for 2026–2029 aiming at its adoption at the third Russia–Africa Summit.
• We reconfirm the shared responsibility of African States and Russia to promote a just and stable world based on the principles of sovereign equality of States, non-interference in their internal affairs, respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the right of all peoples to self-determination as provided for, inter alia, by UN General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 79/115 of 4 December 2024.
Political Cooperation
• We acknowledge the intense dynamics of political engagement between Russia and African States, including at the high and highest levels, and welcome the expansion of mutual diplomatic presence.
• We advocate for cooperative, rather than confrontational relations. We recognize the value of diverse multilateral platforms, including BRICS, in promoting a more inclusive and representative system of global governance.
• We reaffirm our commitment to further facilitating, on a bilateral basis, of conditions for reciprocal travels between Russia and African States, in particular to increase business, education, cultural, tourist and other people-to-people exchanges.
Security Cooperation
• We call on the world community to consolidate political and diplomatic efforts aimed at overall reduction of tensions, peaceful resolution of ongoing conflicts and prevention of new crises as well as ensuring lasting and comprehensive global and regional stability.
• We advocate for compliance with international law and reject any approaches threatening stability in Africa. We emphasise the importance of respecting the universal Africa-led solutions, with partners supporting where appropriate and deplore the involvement of external actors in fuelling conflicts in Africa.
• We reaffirm our commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, its financing and providing of safe havens to terrorists.
Trade and Economic Cooperation
• We acknowledge the positive dynamics in mutual trade between the Russian Federation and African States, despite the unilateral coercive measures in force. Given the potential of Russia–Africa trade and economic cooperation, we reaffirm our shared commitment to significantly increase and diversify its scale.
• We underscore the importance of expanding the participation of Russian companies in Africa, including through cooperation focused on establishing and strengthening manufacturing and industrial capabilities.
• We reaffirm our determination to enhance interaction in the fuel and energy industries and in the field of critical raw minerals essential for just and balanced energy transition, particularly on the African continent.
Read the full statement: Part I / Part II
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Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Statement by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the Plenary Session of the Second Ministerial Conference of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum (Cairo, 20 December 2025)
💬 Sergey Lavrov: Our cooperation continues its confident, forward-looking development. Its comprehensive and genuinely strategic character is being further strengthened. We seek to coordinate efforts both on the international stage and bilaterally, in a spirit of mutual respect and equality.
We are advancing a shared vision of a more just and democratic multipolar world order, free from diktat and “double standards”, and based on respect for international law and the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, in their entirety and interconnection.
We advocate full consideration of the political and economic interests of African countries at all key international platforms, ensure fairer representation of African States in the global decision-making system, including the UN Security Council, and support reform of the international financial architecture. We fully respect the decisions adopted in this regard – the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.
<...>
We attach great importance to strengthening peace and security on the African continent. This is a key prerequisite for steady and sustainable socio-economic development, and an essential element of global stability.
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Russia makes a meaningful contribution to resolving ongoing conflicts and preventing new ones in Africa. We fully share the principle fundamental to Africans: “African solutions to African problems”.
As it did 65 years ago, Russia remains a reliable partner to its friends in defending their sovereignty, relying on their own strengths. We consider unacceptable the course pursued by certain countries and military-political blocs representing the Global Minority, aimed at drawing the region into confrontational geopolitical adventures. This runs counter to Africa’s independent development and prosperity.
We assist in strengthening the defence capabilities of African countries to counter internal and external threats, first and foremost terrorism.
<...>
We are convinced that sustainable conflict resolution requires addressing root causes, which lie in the legacy of Western colonialism – a system that disrupted Africa’s natural historical development, arbitrarily drew borders, and imposed an economic order serving the interests of Western metropolises.
Regrettably, various forms of neo-colonialism persist to this day. We stand ready to act together with our African partners to eradicate them, including through the development of legal instruments to assess and compensate for damage inflicted during the colonial period. Following the first Russia–Africa Ministerial Conference, we agreed to consider establishing a relevant permanent coordination mechanism.
<...>
Today, we are witnessing Africa’s “second awakening”, and the strengthening of its international standing.
We support our African friends’ aspiration to independently choose their partners.
We remain a reliable ally of African states in strengthening their national sovereignty – politically, in security matters, and across all other dimensions: economic, energy, food, technological, digital, human resources, and information – relying on their own resources and national interests, as well as on external partners who fully respect those interests.
Our political dialogue at the highest and high levels is actively developing. Russia’s diplomatic presence on the continent continues to expand. This year, embassies opened in Niger, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan. Next in line are The Gambia, Liberia, Togo, and the Comoros.
We invite partners that do not yet have embassies in Moscow to consider opening them. We stand ready to provide every possible assistance.
📄 Read in full
💬 Sergey Lavrov: Our cooperation continues its confident, forward-looking development. Its comprehensive and genuinely strategic character is being further strengthened. We seek to coordinate efforts both on the international stage and bilaterally, in a spirit of mutual respect and equality.
We are advancing a shared vision of a more just and democratic multipolar world order, free from diktat and “double standards”, and based on respect for international law and the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, in their entirety and interconnection.
We advocate full consideration of the political and economic interests of African countries at all key international platforms, ensure fairer representation of African States in the global decision-making system, including the UN Security Council, and support reform of the international financial architecture. We fully respect the decisions adopted in this regard – the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.
<...>
We attach great importance to strengthening peace and security on the African continent. This is a key prerequisite for steady and sustainable socio-economic development, and an essential element of global stability.
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Russia makes a meaningful contribution to resolving ongoing conflicts and preventing new ones in Africa. We fully share the principle fundamental to Africans: “African solutions to African problems”.
As it did 65 years ago, Russia remains a reliable partner to its friends in defending their sovereignty, relying on their own strengths. We consider unacceptable the course pursued by certain countries and military-political blocs representing the Global Minority, aimed at drawing the region into confrontational geopolitical adventures. This runs counter to Africa’s independent development and prosperity.
We assist in strengthening the defence capabilities of African countries to counter internal and external threats, first and foremost terrorism.
<...>
We are convinced that sustainable conflict resolution requires addressing root causes, which lie in the legacy of Western colonialism – a system that disrupted Africa’s natural historical development, arbitrarily drew borders, and imposed an economic order serving the interests of Western metropolises.
Regrettably, various forms of neo-colonialism persist to this day. We stand ready to act together with our African partners to eradicate them, including through the development of legal instruments to assess and compensate for damage inflicted during the colonial period. Following the first Russia–Africa Ministerial Conference, we agreed to consider establishing a relevant permanent coordination mechanism.
<...>
Today, we are witnessing Africa’s “second awakening”, and the strengthening of its international standing.
We support our African friends’ aspiration to independently choose their partners.
We remain a reliable ally of African states in strengthening their national sovereignty – politically, in security matters, and across all other dimensions: economic, energy, food, technological, digital, human resources, and information – relying on their own resources and national interests, as well as on external partners who fully respect those interests.
Our political dialogue at the highest and high levels is actively developing. Russia’s diplomatic presence on the continent continues to expand. This year, embassies opened in Niger, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan. Next in line are The Gambia, Liberia, Togo, and the Comoros.
We invite partners that do not yet have embassies in Moscow to consider opening them. We stand ready to provide every possible assistance.
📄 Read in full
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✨ Embassy Visit to New Jerusalem Children’s Home ✨
On 18 December, staff of the Russian Embassy visited the New Jerusalem Children’s Home in Midrand to meet with the students of Grades 10-12 and present information on scholarship opportunities for studying in the Russian Federation.
This initiative has been held for the third consecutive year, reflecting the Embassy and Russian community’s ongoing commitment to supporting educational opportunities for young people. We are proud to mention that two girls from New Jerusalem Children’s Home are currently studying in Moscow, having successfully enrolled in Russian universities through the Russian Government’s Scholarship programme.
The session was conducted in an open and engaging format, allowing students to ask questions and consider future educational prospects.
The Embassy highly values its continued cooperation with New Jerusalem Children’s Home and remains committed to promoting access to education and international academic exchange.
#StudyInRussia
On 18 December, staff of the Russian Embassy visited the New Jerusalem Children’s Home in Midrand to meet with the students of Grades 10-12 and present information on scholarship opportunities for studying in the Russian Federation.
This initiative has been held for the third consecutive year, reflecting the Embassy and Russian community’s ongoing commitment to supporting educational opportunities for young people. We are proud to mention that two girls from New Jerusalem Children’s Home are currently studying in Moscow, having successfully enrolled in Russian universities through the Russian Government’s Scholarship programme.
The session was conducted in an open and engaging format, allowing students to ask questions and consider future educational prospects.
The Embassy highly values its continued cooperation with New Jerusalem Children’s Home and remains committed to promoting access to education and international academic exchange.
#StudyInRussia
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