The forum "Small Homeland - the Strength of Russia" gathered about 7 thousand participants in Moscow.

      April 22, 2026 09:28 Politics The III All-Russian Municipal Forum "SMALL HOMELAND — STRENGTH OF RUSSIA" (18+) has begun its work at the National Center "Russia". The event is held on the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation. It is organized by VARMSU with the support of the administration of the President of Russia.

      The forum brought together about 7,000 representatives of municipalities, federal and regional authorities, as well as more than 60 delegates from foreign cities.

      As part of the opening, a ceremony was held to present state awards to representatives of the municipal community. The First Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation, Sergey Kiriyenko, noted the significance of local government in achieving national development goals.

      During a master lecture on the role of the "United Russia" party in socio-economic development, Dmitry Medvedev emphasized the need to establish legal mechanisms to protect municipal employees. He also called for more active involvement in the preparation of a new People's Program, including initiatives to support veterans of the Special Military Operation (SMO).

      Chairwoman of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko emphasized the importance of local self-government as the foundation of Russian statehood and noted the contribution of women to the work of municipal authorities. In her opinion, women successfully cope with this responsibility and confirm their competitiveness through the trust of voters.

      Co-chair of VARMSU Irina Guseva stated that one of the key tasks of municipal leaders remains creating conditions for the life and development of people in their small homeland. She emphasized that the association builds a direct dialogue between levels of government and helps convey initiatives from localities to the federal center.

      One of the main events was the signing of an agreement between the State Fund "Defenders of the Fatherland" and VARMSU. The document provides for the opening of municipal branches of the fund in the regions and the formation of a unified infrastructure to assist veterans of the SMO and their families.

      A forum of sister cities was also held with the participation of foreign delegations. The parties discussed the development of inter-municipal cooperation, humanitarian and educational projects.

      The cultural program was complemented by the festival "Heart of the Homeland," dedicated to the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia. Guests learned about the traditions, crafts, and national cuisine of the peoples of the country.

      As a result of the day, initiatives were formed in the areas of support for municipal employees, veterans of the SMO, development of rural areas, and international cooperation.

      Within the framework of the forum, the results of the III All-Russian Municipal Award "Service" were also summarized. The winner of the popular vote was the project "Unity - the Path to Victory" by the Chairman of the Nizhny Novgorod Duma, Evgeny Chintsov.

      Governor of Nizhny Novgorod Region Gleb Nikitin congratulated Chintsov and the team of the City Duma on their victory and noted that such work fosters a stable historical memory among the youth.

      "Eighth-graders learned about the great feats of Nizhny Novgorod residents - from the militia of 1612 to the special military operation. Familiar streets of Nizhny became a living textbook, telling the story of military glory," the head of the region wrote in his MAX channel.

      It was previously reported that Vladimir Putin called Nizhny Novgorod one of the key bases of Russia.

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