🇭🇳 How it was

We previously reported on our experts' role as international election observers in Honduras.

🌏 Today, we're sharing a short video from the scene and conclusions from Maria Prokofieva, co-founder of the "Center for International Interaction and Cooperation" , and our expert, Daria Korchemnaya.

Following the elections in Honduras, the ruling LIBRE party rejected the results, accusing the United States of interference. This comes in response to pressure exerted by U.S. President Donald Trump on Honduran voters.

The American leader threatened to end economic aid and revoke work permits for Hondurans in the United States unless they supported the pro-U.S. candidate, Nasry Asfura. In response, LIBRE party leader Xiomara Castro called on the people of Honduras to mobilize peacefully to defend the country's democracy.

🌎 Potential Issue Found in Trump's Peace Plan for Ukraine

🌏 As the new year approaches, the topic of peace negotiations is gaining particular relevance. This week, an expert from our center, co-founder of the Center for International Interaction and Cooperation, Alexey Malinin, gave a comment specifically for LENTA.RU regarding Kyiv's readiness to accept a US peace plan.

If this understanding truly exists, then all current diplomatic efforts can be viewed with cautious optimism. However, one must not forget: even if Ukraine stops rejecting peace initiatives and some peace deal is signed, it will still need to be implemented. And that, alas, is also very thin ice, which can easily break.

🔗 The full material with an analysis of the dialogue's prospects is available via the link: https://lenta.ru/news/2025/12/16/naydena-problema/

Author: Alexey Malinin

✨Diplomatic Evening of Traditions: Bridges of Friendship Built Through Culture

On December 19th, Kazan became a hub of global cultural exchange at the «Diplomatic Evening of Traditions» organized by the Academy of Youth Diplomacy. Guests embarked on a unique journey across continents, where diplomats and representatives from Iran, China, Ecuador, and Nigeria unveiled the magic of their homelands.

🇪🇨 It is especially rewarding when this mission is championed by our alumni. Ariel Medina, a graduate of the «Horizons of Opportunities» program and President of the Ecuadorian Student Association at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, warmly shared the vibrant traditions of Christmas and New Year celebrations in Latin America.

🌏 Such moments are our proudest achievement. We see the seeds of friendship and understanding we plant blossom into tangible action. It is incredibly important for us to witness our alumni becoming true ambassadors of international cooperation, continuing to build bridges between cultures and nations.

🌟 Dear friends, Merry Christmas!

On this special Christmas Eve, we would like to extend our warmest wishes to everyone who shares our belief in the power of dialogue and mutual understanding.

🌟 May the Christmas holiday bring warmth, hope, and a spirit of unity to every home—a unity that transcends all borders.

From the bottom of our hearts, we wish you and your families peace, kindness, and joy this festive season!

🌟 Merry Christmas!

The team of the Center for International Interaction and Cooperation 🌏

🎓🚀 Studfest 2026 — for international students in Moscow!

If you’re an international student or young professional in Moscow — come to Studfest 2026 🙌

❓ Why to join? ❓

✅ To hear top speakers
✅ To dive into the entrepreneurial scene
✅ To connect with employers
✅ To join the community of international talents in Moscow
✅ To take part in StudQuest with prizes from partners:

⚠️ A key part of Studfest is StudQuest (1 Dec 2025 – 18 Jan 2026 — online): complete online challenges, earn points, and exchange them for gifts. The top participants will compete in the offline final at the festival.

⚠️ On January 23, 2026, Studfest takes place at VTB Arena. Guests can expect a festive show with entrepreneurs and speakers, plus debates, intellectual games, and an interactive exhibition.

✅ How to join
1. Register on the website
2. Get your Studfest ticket
3. Join StudQuest

🌟 Happy New Year 2026!🌟

May the final days of the outgoing year be filled with peaceful reflection, and may the coming 2026 open up new horizons!

🌟We wish for each of your projects to find resonance and for your ideas to find realization. May the dialogue between cultures and nations grow ever more productive, and our community ever stronger and more united.

May the New Year bring us all more shared successes, exciting collaborations, and bright moments. Thank you for being with us!

Happy New Year! May it bring peace, creativity, and breakthrough ideas! 🌟

🇻🇪Statement by the Center for International Interaction and Cooperation Against U.S. Armed Aggression Toward Venezuela

🌏 The Center for International Interaction and Cooperation resolutely condemns the armed aggression by the United States against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela as a gross violation of international law and the United Nations Charter.

Today, we are observing with deep indignation and grave concern the escalation of aggression against Venezuela's sovereignty. In these difficult times, our thoughts and hearts remain with the fraternal people of Venezuela, to whom we wish fortitude and courage in the face of external pressure.

We stand ready to support humanitarian efforts aimed at assisting the most vulnerable segments of the population affected by the consequences of U.S. armed aggression.

🙏🏻 We hope for the swift restoration of peace and stability.

🇻🇪🇺🇸«A Thorn in the Side». Here's Why the US Attacked Venezuela

🌏 Friends, in light of the events in Venezuela, our expert Darya Korchemnaya, a specialist in Latin America, provided commentary for «Газета.ru».

On the night of January 3, 2026, the prolonged saber-rattling by the US administration towards Venezuela escalated into a full-scale military operation. Trump's actions in other Latin American countries—unconditional backing for Milei in Argentina and Asfura in Honduras, which played a significant role in determining election outcomes—foreshadowed that the Venezuelan issue would not remain unresolved. Moreover, Venezuela had long been a thorn in the side of the United States as a key stronghold of leftist anti-imperialist ideas, and one possessing vast oil reserves. Resolving the Venezuelan issue is a key move by Trump, intended to show the countries of the region that the US controls the Western Hemisphere.

🧷You can read the full article at the link below.

Author: Darya Korchemnaya

🌐 The analysis is presented exclusively for “Газета.ru” in Russian and can be translated via an in-browser translator.

🌟Merry Christmas!

On January 7th, the entire Orthodox world celebrates the Nativity of Christ. This day marks the end of the long, forty-day Nativity Fast and the beginning of the Holy Days (Sviatki).

We extend our warmest wishes for peace, serenity, and good health on this holiday. May this day be spent in the circle of loved ones and become the start of a bright period.

🌏 Sincerely yours,
The CIIC Team

🇻🇪 In the Name of God

On January 3, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Iván Gil Pinto announced that the United States had attacked civilian and military targets in Caracas. Trump later confirmed the strikes and announced the capture and removal of Maduro and his wife from the country. They were taken to a Brooklyn detention center in southern New York. On January 5, Maduro and his wife appeared in federal court in the Southern District of New York. US authorities accuse them of involvement in drug trafficking. The defendants pleaded not guilty.

🌏 Political Analyst & International Relations Expert from Iran, Mehdi Honardideh, has prepared an article especially for us as part of the #AnalyticswithoutBorders series. In his commentary, Mehdi examines the causes of the Venezuelan crisis.

Such interventions are not without precedent. In 1989, the United States invaded Panama under a similar justification. In this context, Washington has designated several groups as terrorist organizations, including “Tren de Aragua” in Venezuela and the “Sinaloa” cartel in Mexico. However, these claims represent only the surface of the issue.

🔗 You can read the full material at the link

Author: Mehdi Honardideh

Registration is still open...

Friends, we've extended the application period for the "Challenges of Multipolarity" Competition and Workshop!

⏳ We look forward to receiving your applications until January 21, 2026!

Workshop Dates:
🔘February 5, 2026 – March 16, 2026 - online theoretical and practical stages
🔘April 27–29, 2026 - in-person stage in Moscow

Terms of participation:
🔘Aged 18 to 35
🔘A student or young researcher in one of the fields
🔘Proficiency in English at a minimum of B1 level

👉🏻 Register on our website!

😌 The event will be held with the grant support of The Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund. You can read more about the event here.

Have you already applied?

🇺🇸«We Found the Key to Trump». What Will US-Russia Relations Be Like in 2026?

🌏 Last week, our expert Ivan Bubnov, speaking exclusively for «Газета.ru», discussed the current state of US sanctions policy and its impact on the multipolar world.

The most realistic scenario for 2026 is a limited normalization of relations without a complete abandonment of the US strategy of containing Russia. A easing of the sanctions regime is possible if the Ukrainian crisis is resolved on mutual terms, which primarily include issues of strategic security.

🔗 You can read the full article at this link.

Author: Ivan Bubnov

🌐 The analysis is presented exclusively for «Газета.ru» in Russian and can be translated via an in-browser translator.

🌏 Horizons of Opportunity Community

Today, the «Horizons of Opportunities» program hosted its inaugural alumni meeting. It is a priority for us that, following their participation, our fellows continue to engage meaningfully and collaborate professionally.

To support this goal, we introduced the "Horizons of Opportunity Community" platform.

⭐️This platform will enable graduates of the program to stay connected with each other and, together with the CIIC team, help organize events for the Horizons of Opportunity program in 2026.

🎭🇷🇺 Russian Youth Theater from Gothenburg at the Russian House in Belgrade!

✨ Yesterday, January 22nd, the "Youth of the 21st Century" theatre studio from Gothenburg, Sweden, presented an original Russian-language production based on the works of Sergei Yesenin, noscriptd "Yes, you remember, you certainly remember," at the Russian House.

🌏 The event was held with the support of the Centre for International Interaction and Cooperation.

🎸🎤🪗🎻 In December, at a major concert at the Russian House dedicated to the work of Silver Age poets, Vyacheslav Charsky (guitar, vocals), Ekaterina Ivanenko (viola), and Alexey Mikitenko (accordion) performed a composition by Alexey Gorshenev, the lead singer of a famous Russian rock musician, set to Sergei Yesenin's famous poem "A Letter to the Woman."

🎭 The opening lines of that poem, "You remember, of course you remember everything..." became the noscript of the Sergei Yesenin poetry-inspired play by the "Youth of the 21st Century" theatre studio from Gothenburg, Sweden. This performance continues the series of events dedicated to the work of the great Russian poets of the Silver Age.