Infosvyaz Foundation Experts Join Strategic Session of the BRICS Civil Council in Moscow

Experts from the Infosvyaz Foundation took part in a strategic session of the BRICS Civil Council held in Moscow on November 17−18, 2025. The session was organized by the BRICS-Russia Expert Council together with the Russian segment of the BRICS Civil Council and brought together representatives of civil society organizations, research institutions, and policy centers from across BRICS countries.

The Infosvyaz Foundation was represented by its Director, Alena Pyoryshkina, and Deputy Director, Irina Kostetskaya. The meeting marked an important milestone in preparations for the transition of leadership of the BRICS civil track to India and in the coordination of joint priorities and activities for 2026.

Opening the session, Viktoria Panova, Head of the BRICS-Russia Expert Council, Vice Rector of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, and Co-Chair of the Russian segment of the BRICS Civil Council, emphasized that the expanding BRICS format increases the importance of the civil track. She highlighted the need to strengthen horizontal cooperation among civil society actors as a foundation for sustainable humanitarian engagement.

Discussions on the first day focused on reviewing the results of the BRICS Civil Council’s work in 2024−2025, assessing the outcomes of the BRICS Civil Summit in Brazil, and shaping future communication and outreach strategies. Participants underlined the importance of enhancing public engagement and visibility of civil society initiatives across BRICS countries.

A central event of the session was a dialogue between civil society representatives and Sergey Ryabkov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and Russia’s BRICS Sherpa, together with members of the diplomatic community. He described BRICS as a platform built on trust, equality, and mutual respect, combining political flexibility with strong economic and humanitarian potential. Mr. Ryabkov stressed that grassroots, professional, and community-driven initiatives are essential to strengthening the humanitarian dimension of BRICS cooperation.

The second day was dedicated to preparations for the upcoming BRICS Civil Summit, scheduled for December in Rio de Janeiro under Brazil’s presidency. The Brazilian delegation presented an overview of the Summit’s agenda and expected outcomes. Participants agreed on key priorities of the civil track, including support for non-governmental organizations, youth engagement, promotion of sustainable development and digital cooperation, and the integration of new BRICS members.

The session concluded with the identification of priority areas for collaboration in 2026 and agreement on the framework for continued cooperation during India’s BRICS presidency.