Ahlan wa sahlan, Habibti! ⭐️

A new chapter of the InteRussia fellowship has officially begun — this time bringing together journalists from the Middle East and North Africa.

On May 27, the official opening ceremony of the program took place at the headquarters of RT Arabic in Moscow. This year’s participants include professionals from leading media outlets in Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Mauritania, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.

📌 Sergey Orlov, Deputy Executive Director at the Gorchakov Fund, took part in the opening ceremony and welcomed the fellows on behalf of the program’s organizers.

After the official part, the participants toured the RT editorial offices and got an insider’s look into how news channels operates behind the scenes.

Over the next month, the fellows will engage in daily masterclasses and professional training sessions delivered by the RT Arabic team, meet with leading Russian experts and media professionals, and — as one of the program’s highlights — attend the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

We are thrilled to welcome our new fellows and wish them a meaningful and inspiring journey through Russia!

#interussia #journalism #PresidentialGrantsFoundation #WYFD

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Do you know why Russia’s smallest coin is called a “kopeck”? 🪙

Well, now our fellows do! On May 29, the participants of the InteRussia fellowship in Russian studies visited the Museum of Moscow to explore the city’s rich past through the large-scale exhibition "History of Moscow."

The display offers a deep dive into the everyday life of Muscovites across the centuries — from the first settlements along the Moscow River in the first millennium BC to the dawn of the Great Patriotic War.

The exhibition features around 2,700 artifacts and artworks from the museum’s collection, including archaeological finds, paintings, rare books, photographs, household objects, and architectural fragments. Through these items, visitors discover how different social groups lived — from medieval craftsmen whose professions now echo in street names, to noble families, merchants, peasants, and residents of 1920s communal apartments.

And the kopeck?

Most historians agree that the name comes from the image once featured on its obverse — Saint George the Victorious slaying a serpent with a spear (kop’ye in Russian). Hence the name kopeck — a small coin with a sharp story behind it.

#interussia #russianstudies #PresidentialGrantsFoundation #NewGeneration

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Beyond Expectations: Exploring the Soul of Chechnya 🔆

Some trips do more than just show you new places — they change how you see the world. As part of the fellowship, our journalists visited the Chechen Republic, a region where deep-rooted traditions and a strong cultural identity meet a bold, forward-thinking spirit.

Here’s a glimpse of what they experienced:

🟡At the Russian University of Special Forces, fellows saw up close how discipline and focus are forged through tough, hands-on training.

🟡In Shali, they visited the "Pride of Muslims" Mosque — the spiritual heart of the region — and spoke with the mosque’s imam and Deputy Mufti of Chechnya about unity and tradition.

🟡During a meeting with the Minister of National Policy, Foreign Relations, Press and Information, the group explored Chechnya’s history, its current challenges, and how the republic is shaping its voice on the world stage.

🟡They even stepped into the spotlight themselves during a talk show on GTRK Grozny, sharing their impressions.

Chechnya surprised our journalists — with its warmth, its stories, and its people. What you see in photos only scratches the surface of the actual beauty of this place.

The InteRussia fellowship in journalism for MENA specialists is implemented with the support of the Presidential Grants Foundation and World Youth Festival Directorate.

#interussia #journalism #PresidentialGrantsFoundation #WYFD

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