The V Congress of Small Towns of the Nizhny Novgorod and Grodno Regions opened in Diveevo.

      On August 14, 2026, at 1:00 PM, Politics. On August 14, the solemn opening of the V Congress of Small Towns (18+) of the Nizhny Novgorod Region of the Russian Federation and the Grodno Region of the Republic of Belarus took place in Diveevo. The Congress was initiated by the Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, Evgeny Lyulin, and the Chairman of the Grodno Regional Council of Deputies of the Republic of Belarus, Elena Pasyuta.

      Representatives of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, deputies of the Legislative Assembly of the Nizhny Novgorod Region and the Grodno Regional Council of Deputies, representatives of the government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region and the Grodno Regional Executive Committee, heads of local self-government bodies in the Nizhny Novgorod Region and local administration in the Grodno Region, representatives of youth parliamentary associations and commercial structures from the Nizhny Novgorod and Grodno regions are participating in the Congress.

      The main theme of the Congress is a comprehensive approach to solving the problem of personnel shortages in the agricultural sector, tourism, culture, and the development of the personnel potential of local self-government bodies. "The results of the Congress of Small Towns of our two regions cannot be measured in rubles, tons, or cubic meters. Its outcomes are much more important because they allow for the formation of an atmosphere of trust between the residents of Nizhny Novgorod and Grodno. In these days in Diveevo, Arzamas, and during trips to Ardatov and Voznesenskoe, a miracle of people's diplomacy will take place. In communication and in discussing joint projects, hundreds of participants will create the groundwork for collaborative work in various directions. The relevant topics that will be raised during the Congress are equally important for both regions: this includes retaining young specialists in rural areas, developing small and medium-sized businesses and tourism, and strengthening cultural ties," emphasized the Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, Evgeny Lyulin.

      "The Congress of Small Towns is a unique platform that allows for the sharing of experiences and the building of strategies for the further development of regions so that people feel happy everywhere – both in small towns and in large metropolises. I am confident that the issues we discuss and the solutions developed here will yield practical results and will work towards strengthening our Union State," noted the Chairman of the Grodno Regional Council of Deputies of the Republic of Belarus, Elena Pasyuta.

      "It is the people who develop our territories. And we understand that any strategies and ambitious projects remain on paper if they are not backed by professionals dedicated to their work. I am convinced that the experience of our countries in training, attracting, and supporting personnel, which we will exchange, will help us create a modern and attractive environment for work and life. I wish fruitful work, bold ideas, and practical solutions for the benefit of the residents of our regions and our countries! We, brotherly peoples, have always been and will be together! I hope that this Congress will allow us to further develop our cooperation, and that Diveevo will become a place of strength for all," said the First Deputy Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, Andrey Gneushev.

      "For five years, the Congress has become a successful practice of cooperation between the Nizhny Novgorod and Grodno regions, gaining recognition at the federal and union levels. It is important that this work has already gone beyond the interregional format. The experience of interaction between our small towns was considered in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia, and as a result, it was proposed to develop a concept for supporting cooperation between the small towns of the two countries. This is a good example of how the initiative of municipalities becomes part of the union agenda and leads to concrete solutions. It is important for us to continue translating the exchange of experiences into joint projects that will work for the development of our territories," noted Russian Senator Olga Shchetinina.

      "For the fifth year, we have been co-organizers of the Congress, and today it is no longer just a platform for exchanging experiences, but a full-fledged 'laboratory of solutions' for small towns and rural areas of the two regions. The fifth Congress of Small Towns is about practical results. Our task is to develop conditions that will allow specialists to see in small towns not a periphery, but a territory of great opportunities. We have joined efforts with the Grodno region to strengthen our approaches to personnel policy: from work in the agricultural sector and municipal management to creative industries and tourism. Participants of the Congress will see the work of Nizhny Novgorod enterprises and institutions in real-time," emphasized the head of the House of People's Unity, Sergey Fedorov.

      After the solemn opening, the participants of the Congress of Small Towns laid flowers at the Eternal Flame in the Victory Park of the village of Diveevo.

      The work of the Congress continues, taking place in four thematic sections: "Personnel Support for Local Self-Government Bodies: Issues and Development Trajectories," "Development of Human Capital in Rural Areas: Strategies for Engaging and Retaining Young Specialists in the Agricultural Sector," "Personnel Policy in the Field of Culture and Tourism: Priorities and Mechanisms for Professional Adaptation," and "The Role of Youth in Russia and Belarus in Preserving Historical and Cultural Heritage and Establishing Intergenerational Dialogue."

      Evgeny Lyulin and Elena Pasyuta will participate in the work of the "youth section," where the experience and practices of engaging youth in preserving historical and cultural heritage, the role of youth organizations and movements in patriotic education and intergenerational dialogue, the contribution of youth labor collectives and initiatives to the development of small towns and rural areas, and the participation of the church and military-historical societies in youth policy and the preservation of military memory will be discussed.

      Let us remind you that the Congress of Small Towns of the Nizhny Novgorod and Grodno regions is taking place for the fifth time. The idea of its creation belongs to regional deputies. On the Nizhny Novgorod side, the organizers of the Congress are the Legislative Assembly of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, the regional government, and the House of People's Unity. The delegations at the V Congress are headed by the Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, Evgeny Lyulin, and the Chairman of the Grodno Regional Council of Deputies of the Republic of Belarus, Elena Pasyuta. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+.