On 13–14 March 2026 in Moscow was held the 3rd economic forum ‘Russia-Balkans in the Architecture of a Multipolar World: Prospects for Economic Integration’, which, according to participants, once again confirmed its reputation as a unique platform for communication and the establishment of international cultural, economic and other ties between the countries of the Balkan Peninsula and the regions of the Russian Federation.
This year, the forum brought together over 160 delegates from more than 18 regions of Russia, as well as representatives from four countries of the former Yugoslavia – Serbia, Republika Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina), North Macedonia and Croatia – and even the Czech Republic. The organisers and participants named the presence of political figures from Serbia and the Republika Srpska as a major achievement: Bojan Torbica, a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia (‘Socialist Movement’), and Draga Mastilović, Minister of Scientific and Technological Development and Higher Education of the Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Compared to last year, the forum’s geographical scope has expanded significantly: for the first time, it was attended by representatives not only from the European part of Russia, but also from Chelyabinsk Region. Speakers included representatives from big business, politics, education, the media and other sectors.
One of the central themes of the plenary session was energy security in the context of geopolitical instability and the rapidly changing realities of international relations. As noted by Mikhail Yaruev, head of the Russian-Balkan Center for Business Cooperation and Culture, energy remains one of the most promising and significant areas of cooperation between the regions of Russia and the Balkan countries. In this context, particular attention was paid to the upcoming elections in Hungary, scheduled for 12 April 2026, as they may significantly influence the political situation in the region. The issue of the upcoming elections in Serbia also caused a strong discussion.
The issue of cooperation between the Balkan countries and Crimea and the new regions of Russia appeared no less relevant. Speakers noted that the establishment of ties is currently prevented both by the special status of Crimea and the new regions, and by sanctions restrictions. Nevertheless, participants proposed developing joint work through informal formats, in particular through the ‘International Association of Friends of Crimea’, which aims to preserve and strengthen business ties even in the face of the region’s difficult situation.
Valuable attention during the forum was devoted to inter-university cooperation between higher education institutions in Russia and the Balkan states, as well as to issues relating to youth-work and educational activities. Ivanovo Region remains the undisputed leader in Russian-Balkan relations, where numerous inter-university agreements have been concluded between universities in Ivanovo Region, Serbia and the Republika Srpska; student exchange programmes and various Russian-Balkan events are held regularly, attracting interest from both young people in Russia and representatives of the Balkan states. At the same time, Kaliningrad Region has also achieved notable success over the past year: events dedicated to the Balkan countries, Serbian language masterclasses, creative meetings and round-table discussions have been organised in the region. Furthermore, representatives from the University of Tver Region were present at the forum.
During further discussions, an initiative was put forward to establish a single body – a ‘Centre for Technological Cooperation’ – which could combine the functions of a chamber of commerce and industry, a logistics centre and a technology consortium. This idea was proposed by Nemanja Babić, Assistant Director of the Information and Communication Agency of Republika Srpska (BiH). According to him, the development of cooperation is currently being seriously hampered by logistical difficulties and disruptions to supply chains. It is envisaged that such an integrated ecosystem would enable companies and centres to work on joint projects, recruit staff and identify new opportunities for business development at an international level. This idea aroused particular interest among forum participants, especially from Crimea and the new regions.
The company ‘Information Bureau ‘Vostok’ (‘Исток Инфо Пулт’) played a prominent role in the area of youth work. Its representatives – George Kostić and Nenad Milutinović – expressed serious concern about the lack of large-scale educational activities among young people in Serbia. They presented their platform as an information and cultural centre designed to bring together citizens of Serbia and other countries, particularly Russia. In addition, representatives of the bureau announced the organisation of a friendly football tournament between schools from the Balkan countries, Russia and Belarus. The ‘Information Bureau ‘Vostok’ also plans a major event in memory of the victims of the bombing of Yugoslavia and invited anyone wishing to take part.
Separately, the forum organisers emphasised the importance of developing the ‘Balkan Diplomat’ project, which in recent years has become one of the most comprehensive and informative publications on Russian-Balkan relations. The project’s authors noted that the magazine is read not only by representatives of big business and regional decision-makers in Russia, but also by audiences across the Balkans. As the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Pavel Bushuev, emphasised, the publication is unique in that it contains information for both beginner-Balkanists and experts. Each issue of the magazine includes articles on the region’s history, culture, politics and economy, as well as exclusive interviews with experts and politicians.
The two-day forum generated genuine interest and once again confirmed that it remains a unique platform for interaction between representatives of a wide variety of countries and regions. Participants expressed their sincere gratitude to the organisers, repeatedly emphasising the importance of such events. The forum took place in an extremely positive and friendly atmosphere; the importance of maintaining ties between peoples, even in the face of official political policies and geopolitical tensions, was frequently highlighted. At the close of the meeting, the organisers announced that the ‘Balkan Bridge’ forum-festival would take place in the Ivanovo Region as early as April.
