UNITY IN DIVERSITY

The year 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of the Group of Strategic Vision “Russia — Islamic World,” a public dialogue institute between Russia and the Islamic world. As a new architecture of international relations takes shape and interdependence between Russia and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) deepens, this milestone anniversary becomes more than a mere formal date. An analysis of the Group’s two decades of international activity calls not only for a deep understanding of the results reached but also for clear reference points ahead—transforming the sustainable ties into concrete development strategies.

The groundwork for the Group was laid at the turn of the millennium. While international relations were experiencing epochal, tectonic shifts, and the key trend of the era was the emerging new multipolar world order, there began the search for possible formats of cooperation between Russia and the Islamic world.

In 2003, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, addressing the 10th Summit of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC; from 2011 the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, also OIC) in Malaysia, declared that it is important and necessary for Russia—a country with a Muslim population of more than 20 million—to take part in the activities of the global Muslim community, and put forward an initiative for Russia to join the work of the OIC. Justifying his cause, the Russian President emphasised: “I am convinced that Russia’s participation will not only complement the bright palette of this Organisation; it will add new opportunities to its activity, bringing the weight and voice of the large Russian Muslim community. A community that no longer separates itself from the world community of Muslims and is ready for fruitful participation in its spiritual, cultural and political life.”

A year and a half went by, packed with high and highest level consultations and contacts aimed at implementing the initiative of the Russian President. Among the decisive events of this stage was a speech by Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, at the 32nd OIC Foreign Ministers’ Conference in Sana’a, Yemen, on June 29, 2005. Speaking of the developing interaction between Russia and the OIC, he stressed:
“Moving forward along this path opens up new opportunities for the dynamic, steady development of our bilateral relations with Muslim states, for pooling efforts with the Muslim community in tackling pressing international issues, and for shaping a more stable, just and secure world order.

Following a comprehensive discussion of President Putin’s initiative and Minister Lavrov’s address, on June 30, 2005, the participants voted by a majority to grant the Russian Federation observer status with the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.

In 2006, the Group of Strategic Vision “Russia — Islamic World” was created and set to work. Responsibility for coordinating the Group’s activities fell to the Russian Foreign Ministry, where a dedicated unit for developing relations with the Islamic world was established, along with the post of the Group’s Coordinator at the rank of Ambassador at Large for liaison with the OIC and other international Muslim organisations. That post went to Veniamin Popov, a distinguished diplomat, Arabist and Oriental scholar who had spent many years working in the Middle East.

The Group’s first co-chairs were two outstanding statesmen and political figures: Yevgeny Primakov, an Arabist and Oriental scholar, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, former Prime Minister, former Foreign Minister and former head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, and Mintimer Shaimiev, the first President of the Republic of Tatarstan and Hero of the Russian Federation. A permanent mission of the Russian Federation to the Organisation of the Islamic Conference was also established in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The Group brings together prominent intellectuals and spiritual leaders from Russia and Muslim states able to assess the state and prospects of relations with the Islamic world and to put forward initiatives aimed at developing and strengthening Russia’s cooperation with its member states.

On March 27–28, 2006, the first meeting of the Group of Strategic Vision “Russia — Islamic World” took place at the Moscow International Trade Centre. The event was attended by senior representatives from many Muslim nations, including Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Those gathered were addressed by President Vladimir Putin and the Secretary General of the OIC, Ekmeleddin İhsanoğ- lu. Following this, Group members were received by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russia’s Secretary of the Security Council, Igor Ivanov.

In his address, President Putin remarked: “Expanding our multifaceted ties with the Islamic world is one of the foremost priorities of Russian foreign policy. It is heartening, therefore, that our dialogue is developing fruitfully. This has been greatly helped by Russia being granted observer status with the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.

I am convinced that the threats of international terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, along with attempts to provoke a clash of civilisations, demand closer cooperation from the international community. Only by pooling our efforts can we mount an adequate and effective response to these challenges. I am confident that the work of the Group of Strategic Vision “Russia — Islamic World” will make a substantial contribution to achieving that vital goal.” Speaking at the Group’s first meeting, co-chair Yevgeny Primakov explained the reasons for its creation as: “The first reason that unites us all is the recognition of one of the gravest dangers in today’s world—its religious and civilisational rift. Or, more precisely, its division into two: the non Muslim and the Muslim... Russia is one of the great powers that shape international life, and in that capacity she can, and already does, do everything in her power to prevent the development of this trend, which threatens all humanity.

The second reason for setting up our Group—aimed at fostering dialogue between Russian and leading foreign Islamic figures—lies in Russia’s unique ethno religious status. Millions of Muslims live here... Perhaps no other state whose indigenous population consists of a Christian majority and a Muslim minority can, like Russia, serve as a model of their peaceful coexistence, cross-culture interaction, and a distinctive shared identity. At the same time, Russia’s position as a ‘bridge’ between Europe and Asia is equally unique...” Having also stressed the need to develop measures to counter extremism and intolerance, Primakov observed: “Judging by the highly distinguished composition of our meeting, we can bring our experience, ideas and ability to influence public opinion to help achieve this.” It was these very principles that were fully embedded in the Group’s work from the outset.

Russia’s pivot to the East, time has shown, proved to be right. This is particularly evident now, amid the collective West’s persistent attempts to peddle across the world a philosophy of Russophobia and values alien to our peoples.

To build and develop cooperation with the Islamic world, the Group began to convene meetings both in Russia and abroad, along with conferences, round table discussions and exchanges of delegations, gradually becoming one of the most sought after tools of public diplomacy in foreign policy.

The second meeting of the Group of Strategic Vision “Russia — Islamic World” took place on August 29–31, 2006, in Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan. Discussions focused on the Middle Eastern agenda and ways of preserving peace. Opening the meeting, the Republic’s President, Mintimer Shaimiev, stressed that “Muslims of our country have a unique experience in the development of Islamic theology and its reform—what is called in Arabic ‘al islah.’ Because of this Russian Muslims have become open to other cultures, competitive and tolerant. They have learned to maintain tradition within the Orthodox state.” The year 2007 saw a historic visit by Russian President Putin to Saudi Arabia. His talks with His Majesty King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, together with the signing of important agreements on trade, economic, humanitarian and information cooperation in their presence, opened up new avenues for the Group.

Soon afterwards, the Group’s leadership initiated the International Economic Forum “Russia — Islamic World: KazanSummit” (since 2023, the International Economic Forum “Russia — Islamic World: KazanForum”). The inaugural summit took place in Kazan on June 25–26, 2009, thus creating a leading international platform for economic cooperation and joint projects.

In its activities, the Group’s leadership paid particular attention to reviving religious education. In 2017, the Bolgar Islamic Academy (BIA) was founded in Bolgar, Republic of Tatarstan. Today, it has become a centre of religious education and spiritual enlightenment of national importance. With the assistance of the Group of Strategic Vision “Russia — Islamic World,” the BIA is steadily expanding its cooperation with leading universities in Islamic countries, thereby strengthening humanitarian and academic ties.

The year 2018 marked a new stage in the Group’s work—both the Russian team and the foreign members of the Group changed. Among those joining its activities were members of the Federation Council and deputies of the State Duma, as well as the heads of those Russian federal subjects with predominantly Muslim populations—the Republics of Bashkortostan, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino Balkaria, Karachay Cherkessia, Crimea and Chechnya.

A new Deputy Chair was elected to the Group—Farit Mukhametshin, also serving as the Group’s Activity Coordinator, a senator of the Russian Federation, Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Doctor of Sciences (Politics).

On June 19, 2019, during a meeting with ambassadors from OIC member states at the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Group’s leadership presented its updated strategy.

Opening the event, Sergey Lavrov stressed that “the Group of Strategic Vision ‘Russia — Islamic World,’ created on President Putin’s instruction and now led by the President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, is taking on particular importance. It is tasked with addressing major challenges: coordinating civil society, business circles, religious associations, academia, youth, cultural and artistic figures—all those who seek to contribute to expanding ties between Russia and the Islamic world.” Rustam Minnikhanov then set out the main goal of the Group’s new strategy: “To provide every possible assistance to the further rapprochement between Russia and the Islamic world on a cultural and civilisational tracks, and to help establish contacts with a focus on broadening economic, scientific, technical, and cultural humanitarian cooperation.” That same year, a regular meeting of the Group took place in Ufa, Republic of Bashkortostan, held to mark the 50th anniversary of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. The event proved to be a significant milestone in the development of the Group’s updated strategy.

The following years, meetings and events of the Group were held both in Russia and abroad, and were focused on the following vital matters:

• “Russia — Islamic World: Dialogue and Cooperation Prospects” (2021, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Jeddah);
• “Russian Experience of Preserving Ethno Cultural Diversity, Inter-Ethnic and Inter-Religious Harmony — A Guarantee of Strengthening the Common Civic Identity” (2022, Republic of Tatarstan, Kazan);
• “Russia — Islamic World: Traditional Spiritual and Moral Values as a Basis for Interreligious Cooperation” (2023, Republic of Tatarstan, Kazan. The meeting was honoured by the presence of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia as a guest of the Group);
• “Russia — Islamic World: Fair Multipolar World Order and Secure Development” (2024, Republic of Tatarstan, Kazan).

Particularly noteworthy is the meeting held on December 11–12, 2024, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the theme of which was framed as “Interaction between Russia and the Islamic World in the Era of Emerging Multipolarity.” At the event, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim highlighted the importance of relations with partners who respect sovereignty and stand for justice and progress for all nations: “Collaboration between Russia and the Muslim world to me is not merely political, it must be also firmly based on economic collaboration, as BRICS initiative has shown, but also deeply cultural, because it is forged through centuries of interaction and exchange.”

The OIC Secretary General, Hissein Brahim Taha, spoke highly of the role played by the Group of Strategic Vision “Russia — Islamic World” and noted that the OIC is open to initiatives aimed at strengthening dialogue and cooperation for the benefit of securing common interests, promoting better mutual understanding, and achieving a world order founded on the sovereign equality of states, non interference, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In May 2025, the Group’s annual meeting took place in Kazan under the theme “Experience of Russia and the Islamic World in Youth Policy: Common Challenges and Joint Actions.” The relevance and timeliness of the issues discussed were underscored by the participation of over 150 foreign guests, including members of the Group, leaders of major youth organisations, Russian and foreign officials, diplomats, academics, entrepreneurs, Muslim and Christian religious figures.

It is worth noting that studying the experience of Russia and friendly countries in developing the potential of the younger generation and creating conditions to support them was one of the Group’s priorities in 2025.

The Group has always relied on consultations with the leadership of the Russian Foreign Ministry and its relevant departments, as well as with Russian ambassadors serving in OIC countries.

On April 21, 2025, the traditional annual meeting of the Group’s leadership with ambassadors from OIC member states accredited to the Russian Federation took place at the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Reception House. Those present were addressed by Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, who also serves as Chair of the Group of Strategic Vision “Russia — Islamic World.” Rustam Minnikhanov expressed his gratitude to Marat Khusnullin, Sergey Lavrov, and his fellow Russian and foreign colleagues for their steadfast support of the Group’s activities.

Speaking to the meeting’s participants, Sergey Lavrov noted that “the backbone in Russia-OIC relations is the Strategic Vision Group ˂...˃ This Group serves as an instrument for fortifying friendship, mutual understanding, and trust between Russia and the Islamic world. It is, in essence, a unique platform for inter-civilisational dialogue, aimed at safeguarding traditional spiritual and moral values and enhancing mutual understanding between the Russian Orthodox Church and Muslim organisations—and, more broadly, between the Russian world and the Arab-Muslim civilisation.” Today, the Group of Strategic Vision “Russia — Islamic World” brings together 78 prominent political and public figures from Russia and 25 foreign states, including acting and former ministers, senators and deputies, leading theologians and heads of spiritual administrations, as well as experts from Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and beyond.

Under Rustam Minnikhanov’s leadership, the Group has become a widely recognised platform for fostering inter-civilisational dialogue and facilitating cooperation with the Islamic world across the cultural, humanitarian, political and economic tracks.

Today, the plenary sessions and other events of the Group see the topics discussed broaden—from a just multipolar world order and the spiritual and moral values shared by Russia and the Islamic world to engaging young people in preserving and enhancing those values. Alongside, work continues in areas such as maintaining a multi-confessional and multicultural society, deepening humanitarian cooperation, among others.

In conclusion, it should be noted that through two decades of expedient activity, the Group of Strategic Vision “Russia — Islamic World” has borne out the soundness of the policy set by Russia’s leadership towards active cooperation and engagement with the Islamic world.