On February 12, 2026, Ivanovo was visited by Ekaterina Entina, a scientist, professor at the Faculty of World Economy and World Politics, director of the Center for Mediterranean Studies, and a Doctor of Political Sciences and a Balkanist. This was her first visit to the Ivanovo region. The project is being implemented by the Russian-Balkan Dialogue Center for International Cooperation and the Russian-Balkan Center for Business Cooperation and Culture, with the support of PMK-710 LLC.
As part of the next meeting of the Balkan Club of Ivanovo State University, Ekaterina Gennadievna gave a unique lecture for international history students. She focused on the involvement of global powers in the political, economic, and cultural processes of the Balkan states. A live lecture on the situation in the Balkans engaged students and teachers in an active dialogue. Ekaterina Gennadievna was asked a wide range of diverse and interesting questions about the internal policies of the countries in the region, such as the functioning of communist parties in the former socialist countries of the Balkans, as well as the reasons for the successes and failures of China, Russia, and the United States in expanding their influence in the region.
The audience was particularly interested in Ekaterina Gennadievna’s mention of the Gorchakov Fund’s projects. The guest spoke about the real opportunities available to our students for academic mobility and shared her own experience of applying for competitions and student internships in the Balkans.
A unique meeting was also held at the Ivanovo House of Nationalities. There, a tour was conducted, showcasing a unique collection of costumes. The guest noted that this was her first visit to the city, and some of the locations reminded her of her hometown of Yekaterinburg. Ekaterina Gennadievna also expressed her surprise at the scale of the Ivanovo Region’s cooperation with the Balkans and praised the idea of the House of Nationalities as a center for unity.
In conclusion, Ekaterina Gennadievna Entina commented on her visit to the Ivanovo region in an exclusive interview with BDK:
– Both among ordinary citizens and often among experts and politicians, it is believed that science and international academic relations are truly developing only in megacities: opportunities, attractiveness, and a high level of research. In fact, this is a great misconception: it has been proven that the most unexpected topics are deeply and comprehensively developed in the regions and provinces. People here, much more often than in large cities, are devoted to one topic with their hearts, souls, and entire professional lives, and they are ready to pass on their love and passion to their students!
The Ivanovo region is no exception: it has a special symbiosis of love, warmth, and professional knowledge, and it is ready to implement interesting projects by any means and without an abundance of resources! The region has long been a true center of Balkan studies, and it is known in Serbia and the Balkans as much as St.
