Department for External Economic and International Relations

Yu. I. Kaplun. Head of MCH

The centre for humanitarian and business cooperation with compatriots abroad-the Moscow Compatriot House  (MCH), which was opened on March 25, 2004, is intended to play a major role in the process of coordination of efforts of all concerned organizations aimed at the support of compatriots abroad. The MCH founder is the Moscow Government.

The MCH as an organizational and coordinating centre of operations of the Moscow Government, public, political, business, scientific and other organizations of the city with the Russian compatriots living abroad.

The MCH is a centre of coordination of contacts and interaction of the Russian Diaspora in the Russian Federation capital. It concentrates the activities of various structures and public organizations of Moscow working with the Russian compatriots. The MCH is a centre of information and coordination on the issues of the Russian Diaspora.

The objectives of the MCH as a centre of humanitarian and business cooperation with the Russian compatriots abroad are achieved through the development of the following activities:

• Assistance in the manifold participation of the public, scientific, business and other unions of the foreign compatriots and their representatives in the process of implementation of the programs of the Moscow Government aimed at the support of the compatriots abroad in compliance with the general state interests of the Russian Federation;
• Assistance in the creation of conditions for satisfying the national-cultural and national-educational needs, comprehensive social and cultural development of the Russian diasporas abroad;
• Development of the fruitful economic cooperation of Moscow and business structures of the foreign compatriots.

The purpose and sense of activities of the Moscow Compatriot House are reflected in the words of Yuri M. Luzhkov: "The Russian word is what unites the Russian Diaspora in each country, and us, the Russians, with the Russian Diaspora. The unification process is very powerful, as it is not only natural, but very needed and possible".

A. I. Meshkov.
General director of GUP MTsMS

The Moscow Centre of International Cooperation is a state unitary enterprise of Moscow City (hereinafter—the “Centre”). The Centre was founded in accordance with Decree of the Moscow Government of July 10, 2002 No. 997-RP.

The official short name of the Centre: GUP MTsMS 

The Centre is subordinate to the Moscow City Foreign Trade and International Relations Department, which is responsible for coordination, regulation and scientific and methodical support of the Centre’s activities.

The purpose of the Centre is all possible assistance in

• the social and economic development of Moscow City;
• enhancement of the investment attractiveness of the capital;
• the efficient use of the industrial and scientific-technical potential of the Moscow region;
• establishment, extension and implementation of the international relations of the structural divisions of the Moscow Government, Moscow-based industrial, scientific, cultural organizations and funds.

The primary tasks of the Centre

• promotion of Moscow goods and services to the foreign markets;
• attraction of foreign investments for implementation of perspective projects on the territory of Moscow and Moscow region;
• procurement of efficient cooperation between the state and commercial structures engaged with the international activities and foreign trade;
• expertise, advisory services, research activities, publication of informational and analytical materials, analysis of the infrastructure f global commodity and service markets, including by means of attraction of the international organizations and legal firms;
• arrangement and holding international symposiums, congresses, seminars, round tables and other similar events;
• participation in the implementation of the Program of International Events of the Moscow Government;
• assistance in the implementation of the Moscow Government Program of Work with Compatriots Abroad;
• arrangement on a commercial basis of visits of foreign delegations to Moscow;
• consultancy in passport and visa servicing.

The major fields of the Centre’s activities are assistance in the formation of the image of Moscow as an object of attraction of foreign and domestic investments; preparation and expertise of the foreign economic programs and projects, implementation of target programs of the Moscow Government; assistance in the attraction of foreign firms and organizations to the implementation of economic and investment projects; printing, advertising and exhibition activities; provision of quality tourist services, passport and visa operations, translation/ interpretation.

One of the most important activities of the Centre is the promotion of economic cooperation of Moscow with the CIS and Baltic countries, as well as with the foreign countries. The Centre opens its representative offices and branches in the foreign countries, partakes in the creation of the Moscow cultural and business centres abroad, and concludes agreements with large enterprises.

The Centre manages a number of Moscow cultural and business centres abroad: in particular, in Sofia, Yerevan, Bishkek, Vilnius, Sevastopol, Donetsk and Sukhumi.
GUP Moscow Centre of International Cooperation supports a number of investment projects pertaining to the creation in Moscow of trade and commercial centres of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Vilnius on the land plots allocated by the Moscow Government within the framework of bilateral agreements based on the reciprocity conditions.

The Centre participates in the humanitarian programs of the Moscow Government.

The Centre receives a great number of guests invited by the Moscow Government for participation in the various programs and events, offers a full range of services of arrangement of stay in the capital of the delegations and individuals, including passport and visa and tourist servicing.

The Moscow Centre of International Cooperation constantly extends the framework of its activities and encourages mutually beneficial cooperation with other organizations aimed at the achievement of the goals set by the Moscow Government.

Senior management: Director Alexander Leonidovich Koralov.

Major activities:

• consolidation and dissemination of the advanced experience of economic activities of the enterprises and organizations of Moscow City and other Russian Federation regions;
• arrangement and holding of specialized interbranch domestic and international exhibitions, fairs, symposiums, seminars, conferences and auctions.

In order to achieve its goals the Moskva Centre uses the material and technical base which includes the exhibition complex with a total area of 25,519 m², equipment for rendering exhibition and operational-technical services, conference hall for 200 persons.

Over 30 exhibitions are held every year.

The Closed Joint Stock Company Mosvneshinform was registered by the Moscow Registration Chamber on November 21, 1991.

The management body of the company: Board of Directors, chaired by R. L. Leibe.

Executive Body: General Director-V.L.Donis; Deputies General Director: E. A. Nikulin, M. Ya. Knyazev, I. R. Leibe, O. B. Lakhonin and O. I. Ezhevsky.

The Company has the following licenses:

• an exclusive license for distribution of the LoJack system of radio search for stolen cars on the Russian market;
• a license for rendering services of mobile radiotelephone communication No. 18941 issued by the RF Ministry of Communications;
• The structure of the CJSC Mosvneshinform includes several divisions.

INFO Division-information and marketing service

Information-marketing-advisory activities of "INFO" :

• Topical excerpts from the automated information resources according to the criteria of the customer;
• Analytical references.

Analytical references are submitted in respect of the basic statistical data which characterize the condition of a definite commodity and service market with a general description of the market infrastructure and a concise analysis of its development tendencies. The division can also provide the basic commercial information in all branches of interest to the customer.

• Monitoring reviews

Monitoring reviews (monthly or quarterly) describe the indexes of the market dynamics of certain goods in terms of volumes of production, trade, export/ import and other indexes.

• The indicators of the production activities of the enterprises.
• The volume of Russian production for a commodity item by regions and enterprises.
• The volumes of product manufacture by the Russian enterprises and the rating of manufacturers in terms of the volume of products produced per year.
• Import/ export.

The volume of import/ export of products to and from Russia/ Moscow (quarter, half year, year) by commodity items in general and by each commodity item.

The rating of products by the country of departure or origin (quarter, half year, year).

• the detailed business references by companies with an analysis of credit risks and solvency of the market players;
• the business reference covers the following issues:
• ownership structure of the enterprise;
• initial and characterizing data about the CEO/ owner;
• assortment and volumes of product sales;
• indicators of financial stability/ solvency;
• reputation in the local business community;
• problems with law enforcement agencies and tax police;
• details of all foreign economic operations for the last year;
• official balance for the last year;
• marketing reviews of the market structure in Russia with segmentation by the capacity of market in the regions.

The marketing reviews are prepared primarily based on the quantitative methods, and include a detailed analysis of the key market indicators which characterize its volume, capacity, supply structure, peculiarities of demand, pricing situation and sales strategies, the list of legislative documents.

The in-depth marketing research of various segments of the market of Russia/ Moscow based on the field research and infrastructure analysis, with a purpose of 

• development of a marketing strategy;
• identification of consumer groups and studies of their characteristics;
• definition of consumer preferences and motivation of the buyers;
• positioning of the new commodities and services;
• studies of the level of client satisfaction with the activities of the company;
• assessment of the efficiency of advertising activities.

The research is based on the analysis of the primary and secondary information obtained from the official sources, and collected by means of interviews and questionnaires offered to the consumers and representatives of the market agents, arrangement of focus groups, and, if necessary, by means of the specialized laboratory, psychophysiologic testing of the level of emotional perception of the image attributes by potential consumers.

Development and publishing

• The information analytical periodical Moscow Business Guide;
• Corporate printing products in the form of booklets and brochures which in a descriptive and easy for understanding form represent the results of the conducted marketing research of a certain segment of the Russian market.

Such an edition can be successfully used by the large corporate structures as an original image resource for informing the shareholders, investors or clients about the results of the company’s activities on the Russian market, the positioning of products or separate investment projects in Russia/ Moscow (e.g. for IPOs, for obtaining syndicated loans and in many other similar cases, when the information to be presented is not simply advertising, but rather marketing, and should be circulated among a large number of interested persons).

Specifically for the Moscow developers and potential investors engaged with the construction of large trade centres in Moscow, the division offers to conduct a pre-investment marketing research of the regional marketing in the areas adjoining the location of the future facility in order to select the best configuration of the profile of use of commercial premises of the future facility.

In the course of a complex marketing research the current infrastructure of consumer markets in the area of location of the future facility is studied in detail, and the following actions are performed:

• a comparative analysis of the existing level of supply with assessment of the degree of representation and saturation of the market of the adjoining areas with the major types of commodities and services;
• a complex estimate of the levels of buying capacity of the population, consumer demand and the level of its satisfaction with the existing supply of commodities and services in the adjacent areas;
• services pertaining to the introduction to the global market of the Russian and Moscow-based enterprises:
  • expert assessment of the competitiveness of the Russian and Moscow technologies, inventions, commodities and services;
  • identification of the potential market outlets abroad;
  • collection of information about the potential clients that may be interested in the acquisition of the Russian/ Moscow commodities;
  • establishing direct contacts and carrying out preliminary negotiations with foreign companies for the purpose of investigation of potential interest in the establishment of commercial relations with the Russian and Moscow companies.
• rendering services to the Russian and Moscow-based importers for the purpose of the optimization of their activities:
  • search for the best vendors on the major global markets which offer delivery of definite commodities to Russia/ Moscow;
  • monitoring of the proposals pertaining to the deliveries of new goods which appear in the market segments interesting to the importers;
  • holding preliminary negotiations of the terms of deliveries to the Russian/ Moscow markets;
  • support of foreign economic activities.

A wide range of services relating to the collection of information about the foreign economic activities of the potential partners and/ or potential competitors, for example:

• major vendors and importers of the commodity (contact data bases);
• commodity structure of import/ export (volumes of import/ export by any commodity groups and commodities in the value terms and in kind).
• structure of import/ export of a certain commodity (volumes, ratings, shares in the total volume of import/ export of the exporting countries, countries of commodity origin);
• foreign economic activities of the Moscow-based enterprises;
• the structure of import to Moscow of certain vendors from different countries;
• the dynamics of reference contractual prices for commodities by year/ month;
• annual monitoring of import/ export by a certain commodity with the given regularity (quarter, month).

LOJACK Division

The most famous and the largest project of the CJSC Mosvneshinform: in 1996 the radio search complex LOJACK was implemented based on Decree of the Prime Minister of the Moscow Government No. 1080-РП dated November 1, 1995. The NTV Channel shoot a series of programs named "Interception" about the capacities of LOJACK as an efficient instrument in the hands of the militia officers is counteraction of car theft.

For the first time in Russia, in particular in the Moscow region, a global network appeared which allows the militia officers to counteract the car theft efficiently. The results were amazing. The detection of crimes related to the vehicle robbery increased from 4% to 85%. LOJACK contributed to the prestige of GIBDD officers who proved that if they have the state-of-the-art technical devices for counteraction of crimes, their work becomes rather efficient. The system is currently operating on the territory of Moscow and the Moscow region, and over 7,000 subscribers use its services. The analysis of practical results and the 7-year work experience allows to draw a conclusion of the reliability of this system and the high level of return of the stolen cars. For more information please visit www.lojack.ru .

Trunk Division

Pursuant to Resolution of the RF Gossvyaznadzor 67 couples of frequencies were allocated to the CJSC Mosvneshinform for the arrangement of a trunking communication network on the territory of Moscow and the Moscow Region. The RF Ministry of Communications obtained a license for rendering communication services.

In May 1998 the CJSC Mosvneshinform commissioned the state-of-the-art multi-zone trunking communication system Translink based on MPT 1327 protocol within the frequency 470—486 MHz. The transmission capacity of the network is 10,000 subscribers.

The reasonable allocation of the base stations, the results of experiments and commercial operation of the network allow to provide you with quality real-time radiocommunication in Moscow and the Moscow region.

Pursuant to the order of the Moscow Government the CJSC Mosvneshinform provided for the quality radiocommunication in the period of World Sport Games. Over 1,000 radio stations are operated for the benefit of the Moscow City Main Department for Civil Defense and Emergencies. A number of commercial companies, including security firms, regularly rent the channels of trunking communication.

By using the capacities of the system, our subscribers have been able to increase the intensity of interaction of their services and divisions, have reduced the time losses on the exchange of information and minimized the costs of communication.

For the work with the system we offer the subscriber equipment of the leading world manufacturers: Motorola, Tait, Kenwood, Icom. All subscriber radio stations are reliable, easy to operate and efficient.

During the period from 1998 to 2001, the CJSC Mosvneshinform actively participated in the providing of communication to such events as the final game of the UEFA Cup in May 199, the stage of the Ski Racing World Cup in January 2000, the First International Games of the children from the hero cities of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine in May 2000, 37th WBC Congress (the World Boxing Congress) in June 2000, the Second International Games of the children from the hero cities of Russia in May 2001.

The Open Joint-Stock Company Moscow Trade House was founded on December 12, 2006 as a result of restructuring of the State Unitary Foreign Economy Enterprise Moscow Trade House, and is the legal successor of all of the liabilities of the latter. GUVEP MTH was founded by the Moscow Government (Mossovet) in 1990 in order to ensure the performance of works, manufacturing of products, rendering of services to the enterprises and organizations of Moscow City, as well as the city’s social and economic orders and satisfaction of the social needs.

In order to achieve the above-listed goals, the OJSC MTH carries out the following activities:

• export/ import operations without limitations on the product coverage;
• attraction of investments in construction, reconstruction and restoration of the facilities of industrial and cultural-household purpose;
• retail and small-scale wholesale trade;
• advertising of goods and services for the Russian and foreign buyers;
• arrangement and holding international, foreign, specialized and collective exhibitions of commodities and products on the territory of the Russian Federation and abroad;
• procurement of international transportation and rendering services pertaining to the execution of transport documents and customs clearance;
• marketing research of commodity and currency markets;
• new forms of foreign economic activity;
• operations on the commodity exchanges and currency exchanges, foundation of enterprises and organizations with foreign ownership;
• forwarding the Russian specialists to business trips abroad and rendering visa support to the representatives of foreign companies;
• rendering advisory, informational representation and other services.

Since the moment of its foundation, GUVEP MTH has taken part in the implementation of a large number of city programs:

1991 — purchase of food products, consumer goods and medicines within the framework of commodity exchange operations: USD 14.0 mn.

1992 — execution of the contract with Baukema Handel for delivery of road construction and municipal equipment: DEM 250.0 mn.

1993 — purchase of rubbish processing plant from Helter: DEM 108 mn.

1994 

• purchase of specialized professional television equipment for RMTK Moskva: USD 2.7 mn,
• purchase of infant and medical food products, medicines for provision with dietary products of children’s and school organizations, large families, organizations of the Social Protection Committee, medical establishments: USD 14.0 mn,
• purchase of a set of inventory standard formwork for the reconstruction of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour: DEM 4.0 mn,
• purchase of construction equipment for the reconstruction of the historical centre of Moscow City: USD 3.0 mn.

1995 

• purchase of the sound/lighting and specialized equipment for Moscow theatres and exhibition halls: USD 2.3 mn.
• arrangement of production and purchase of parts for the assembly and service maintenance of Faun Variopress heavy-duty dumptrucks: 26.0 bn of non-denominated rubles.

1996 

• obtaining a loan and purchase of the equipment and services for the construction of the Trade and Recreational Complex Manezhnaya Ploshchad: DEM 108 mn,
• purchase of the sound/lighting and specialized equipment for Moscow theatres and museums: USD 2.2 mn,
• purchase of equipment and cable power lines for the power stations Novo-Tsentralnaya, Zubkovskaya, Taganskaya: DEM 41.0.

1997 

• purchase of parts for the arrangement of production of taxi automobiles Metrocab: USD 2.8 mn,
• purchase of equipment and cable power lines for the power stations Novo-Tsentralnaya, Zubkovskaya, Taganskaya: DEM 19.0.
• purchase of the street "antivandal" toilets-cabins for the development of public toilet network in Moscow City: USD 0.8 mn.
• purchase of specialized equipment for the OJSC Trekhgorny Brewery Plant: 9 bn of non-denominated rubles,
• purchase of equipment for TV Tsentr company: USD 20.0 mn,
• purchase of audiovisual equipment, lighting facilities, video recording and editing equipment, electronic organ for Novaya opera theatre: USD 3.2 mn,
• purchase of children’s attractions for the Izmaylovski culture and recreation park: USD 1.0 mn,
• purchase of the sound/lighting and specialized equipment for Moscow theatres and museums: USD 1.2 mn.

1998 

• purchase of medical equipment for city hospitals: USD 1.4 mn,
• purchase of the sound/lighting equipment for Moscow theatres: USD 0.5 mn.

1999 

• purchase of cable-draft road equipment in order to arrange of ski mountain routes in Moscow City: USD 1.1 mn,
• purchase of the sound/ lighting and specialized equipment for Moscow theatres and concert halls: USD 3.1 mn,
• purchase of equipment for the Centre of Moscow Gossanepidemnadzor: USD 6.2 mn,
• purchase of lifts and escalators for the office business complex on the T. Shevchenko embankment-MMDTs Moskva-City: USD 3.9 mn.

2000 — conclusion of a contract and obtaining a loan for the purchase and arrangement of assembly in Moscow on the basis of the domestic ZIL chassis of municipal machines with suspended seasonal equipment (flushing machines, salt and sand spreading machine, sweeper and snow-clearing equipment): DEM 24.5 mn.

2001 

• purchase of the sound/ lighting and specialized equipment for Moscow theatres and concert halls, picture galleries, museums and libraries: USD 3.0 mn + RUR 63 mn,
• purchase of computer tomograph for Severodvinsk City: USD 1.0 mn,
• purchase of foreign operational microscope for MNII named after N.V. Sklifosovsky: DEM 153 thd,
• purchase of equipment for enzyme immunodetection in the work with activators of special danger infections for the Centre of Moscow Gossanepidemnadzor: USD 32 thd,
• purchase of equipment for the control of planeness of motor roads for the equipment of Gosarkhstroynadzor: RUR 700 thd.

2002 

• purchase of technological equipment for the OJSC TV Tsentr: RUR 700 mn,
• purchase of computer tomograph for the United Hospital of Mayor’s Office Moscow Medical and Sanitary Union: USD 1.725 mn,
• purchase of the sound/ lighting equipment and music instruments for the OJSC CITY: RUR 17.0 mn.

2003—2006  — participation at the expense of own and borrowed funds in the construction of seaquarium on the Poklonnaya gora, which included:

• obtaining for use on long-term use conditions of a land plot located in Bratiev Fonchenko street (the CJSC of Moscow) for designing and construction of the seaquarium complex, execution of a contract for long-term lease of the land plot with Moskomzem and the further re-execution of the contract for long-term lease of the land plot with the enterprise with foreign investments (the LLC Marine Gardens);
• placing orders in the relevant bodies for the performance of engineering-geological and engineering environmental investigation, development of town planning feasibility study and working out the initial permits, licenses, approvals for the construction of the seaquarium and specifications of its connection to the external engineering communications;
• conclusion of a contract with the enterprise with foreign investments (the LLC Marine Gardens) and co-investors attracted by the latter for the construction and operation of the seaquarium;
• conclusion of set of contracts with research and project institute of ecology for the development of working project of recultivation of the dump, authorial supervision of the working project and quality assurance of recultivation works on the territory of the projected construction of the seaquarium;
• conclusion of contracts with the city expert, designing and controlling organizations for the conduction of expertise and validation of project documentation.

The estimated cost of the project is 150—200 mn euros.

The OJSC (GUVEP) MTH has continuously taken part in the contests for the purchase of goods and service rendering, and has autonomously arranged such contests for the benefit of Moscow City.

Under the decision of the Russian Compatriots International Council, with the support of the Government of Moscow and the Moscow House of Compatriots, the First Forum of Chiefs of the youth organizations of Russian compatriots, who live abroad, took place on September 23-27, 2004.

Representatives of the Federation Council and the State Duma of the Russian Federation Federal Meeting, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Roszarubezhcentre, the Chamber of Commerce of the Russian Federation, the Moscow Municipal Duma and of several structural divisions of the Government of Moscow participated in the Forum work.

Participants of the Forum accepted the appeal to President of the Russian Federation  V. V. Putin, to the Mayor of Moscow Yu.M.Luzhkov, to the youth of the Russian abroad. The result of the Forum became creation of the International Association of the youth organizations of the Russian compatriots (MAMORS) with the purposes of assistance to consolidation and coordination of youth public associations abroad activity.

Representatives of associations of young Russian compatriots from more than 40 countries of the world became founders of Association. They adopted the Charter of the new organization, generated directing bodies — Board of the Association, which consists of 17 persons from 15 countries headed by V.V.Pashkov (the Board Chairman, Ukraine) and V. V. Zhuravlyov (Executive Committee Secretary, Russia), the Auditing Control Committee of 7 persons.

During the Forum work the basic directions of the MAMORS activity were defined:

• youth of the Russian abroad: problems of preservation of historical memory and cultural identification;
• the Russian language and literature. Educational in the Russian language problems;
• young businessmen of the Russian Diaspora: formation problems;
• problems of creation of a uniform Russian-speaking informational field abroad;
• the youth organizations — the future of the Russian Diaspora;
• sports: healthy generations;
• ecology and youth;
• the youth organizations in the solutions of environmental problems, which face mankind in the XXI century.

The MAMORS special attention is aimed at the active participation of young compatriots in the preparation for celebrating of historical dates memorable for all the Russians, both in the form of scientific conferences, various festivals and shows of youth creativity, and in the form of expanded forums of the youth organizations of the Russian abroad, specially timed to these events.

Creation of MAMORS invigorated the process of consolidation of the youth organizations of the Russian compatriots, who live abroad, promoted the increase of their role in the life of the Russian Diaspora, strengthening of relations with their historical Motherland.

Preparation for the Celebration of the 60-th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, their unity with all the Russian people became an important uniting factor of the youth organizations of compatriots activity. This once again demonstrated the fidelity of the youth of the Russian abroad to the historical memory of generations, their aspiration to contribute within their powers to strengthening of the international position of the Russian world and the prestige of Russia.

In April 2007 the Second MAMORS Conference, which collected more than one hundred representatives of young Russian compatriots from the various countries of the world, took place. In its work participated: Chief of Department of international contacts of the city of Moscow G. L. Muradov, Director of Department for the work with compatriots, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation  I. V.Chepurin, representative of Administration of President of the Russian Federation  O. F. Trofimova, Director of the Moscow House of compatriots Yu.I.Kaplun, the ICRC Executive Secretary  V. P. Durnev. The delegates met with Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Federal Meeting, Director of the CIS countries Institute  K. F. Zatulin.

At the meeting statements against the transfer of the monument to the Soviet Soldier The Liberator in Tallinn (Estonia) and closure of the Russian exposition in the Osventsim Museum (Poland) were unanimously accepted. In the evening on April, 26th delegates of the Conference participated in the Moscow festival "Youth for the culture of the world" in Luzniki.

On April 27th, delegates of the Conference worked by sections: "Youth of the Russian abroad: problems of preservation of historical memory and cultural identity"; "Support of the enterprise activity"; "Organizational issues and development of the Russian information field"; "Support of the Russian language, culture, education, religion issues"; "Social adaptation and cultural integration of young compatriots"; "Legal assistance to Russian compatriots".

Now MAMORS  is the unique dynamically developing international youth organization of compatriots.

History of the International Council of Russian Compatriots

More than five years ago sixteen enthusiasts — delegates of the First World Congress of Compatriots (Moscow, October 2001), living abroad, in response to the call of President of Russia V. V. Putin, decided to create an international organization of compatriots.

In October 2nd, 2002 at the next meeting of this initiative group, which was conducted with the assistance of the Government of Moscow, the decision to establish a new international public association under the name International Council of Russian Compatriots (ICRC) was adopted. This date also became the day of its birth. In October 10th, 2003 ICRC was registered in the Ministry of Justice of Russia.

According to its Charter, the ICRC activity is based on the principles of voluntariness, equality of the rights of its members, self-management, legitimacy and publicity. As its major purpose the ICRC proclaimed assistance to association and coordination of public associations of compatriots activity for the sake of preservation of ethnic identity and national uniqueness, spiritual and cultural heritage of the Russian people, propagation abroad of the Russian language and culture.

The highest governing body of the ICRC is the Conference. The management of the ICRC during the period between the conferences is executed by the Board. During the period between the Board meetings — the Presidium, which is headed by Count P. P. Sheremetev. The honorary Chairman of the Council is Mayor of Moscow Yu.M.Luzhkov.

The first Conference (Moscow, March, 2004) Representatives of the organizations and associations of compatriots from 43 countries of near and far abroad discussed the key moments of mutual relations of Russia and the Diaspora, strategy of the further activities aimed at strengthening of arising interaction of compatriots with the state bodies of Russia.

The second Conference (Moscow, May, 2005) In its work participated: representatives of federal legislative and executive authorities, the Government of Moscow, the Russian public organizations and funds. At the Conference acted Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Yu. V.Fedotov and First Deputy of Mayor of Moscow L. I. Shvetsova.

The Conference took place in the year of the 60 Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Member organizations of the ICRC together with foreign establishments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Houses of Moscow were organizers of the mass socially-patriotic and cultural events, devoted to the Anniversary in the countries of residence. These actions, as delegates marked, allowed reminding once again to the public of foreign countries of a true role of Russia in deliverance of mankind from fascism.

The ICRC activities during the next years were built on the basis of the signed in 2005 between the ICRC and the Government of Moscow of the Working agreement within the limits of activity of the Government of Moscow on fulfillment of the policy of the Government of Russia and its President regarding the Russian compatriots abroad. In particular, the ICRC aimed to combine the work with the Support of the Russian compatriots abroad Program for 2006-2008, the federal purpose program "The Russian Language (2006 — 2010)", the Government program of assistance to voluntary resettlement to the Russian Federation of the compatriots, who live abroad". In the work practice, constructive offers and initiatives of the ICRC member organizations, of the Russian partner organizations and institutions were invariably taken into consideration.

For 5 years 8 Board meetings, including 1 field meeting (Cyprus, April, 2003), and 9 Presidium meetings, including 1 field meeting (Azerbaijan, September, 2006) have taken place. At these meetings the strategy of development and organization activity is developed. The Council management defined consolidation of the Russian Diaspora abroad as the main task, with collecting of "the Russian world" — the people speaking in Russian, connected with Russia by historical, ethnic, cultural, as well as spiritual bonds and feeling the need to maintain contacts and cooperation with their Motherland.

Regular meetings of members of the Presidium with the ICRC Honorary Chairman, Mayor of Moscow Yu.M.Luzhkov, on which major issues of the Council activities are solved, including building of the ICRC headquarters and the International House of Student in Moscow, realization of mass actions for compatriots in the Russian capital have become a major component of these meetings.

Issues of interaction of Russia with compatriots abroad, perfection of the legislation regulating this interaction, preparations of the Second World Congress of compatriots, further development of the ICRC, etc. have been continually discussed between the Presidium members with the head of Department of Administration of the President of Russia M. A. Kolerov, with the committee member of the State Duma of the Russian Federation on the CIS and work with compatriots issues, Director of the CIS countries Institute  K. F. Zatulin, Stats-secretary, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs  G. B. Karasin and Director of Department for work with compatriots abroad of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia I. V. Chepurin, who repeatedly was present at the Presidium meetings.

Annual decoration with the honorary award "Compatriot of the Year" has become the main event, which is conducted by the ICRC together with the Government of Moscow. The ICRC and the Government of Moscow to reward Russian compatriots, who live abroad, for outstanding achievements in the public and professional work, which made important effect on the life of the Russian Diaspora, its consolidation and strengthening of its position in the world, founded it.

As for now, this award was handed to Academician Roald Sagdeyev (USA), Prince Nikita Lobanov-Rostovsky (Great Britain), writer Naum Korzhavin (USA), the chief of the publishing house "Petit" Alexey Sheynin (Latvia), Deputy of European Parliament Tatyana Zhdanok (Latvia), Chairman of Board of "Motor Sich" Public Company Vyacheslav Boguslayev (Ukraine), Absolute World Champion in boxing Konstantin Tszyu (Australia), veterans of the Great Patriotic War Vasily Kononov and Nikolay Tess (both from Latvia), singer Dmitry Khvorostovsky (USA), singer Lyubov Kazarnovskaya (Austria), poetess Angelina Bulychyova (Ukraine), public and political figure, Chief of the Russian Community of Crimea Sergey Tsekov.

Among other actions of the ICRC one may note 2 international forums "Foreign Diaspora — economic potential of Russia" (Yalta on July 2-3, 2003 and Baku on July 2-5, 2004), the International forum "Foreign Diaspora — mental potential of Russia" (Moscow, October, 2003). Participation of the ICRC in the elections monitoring in the Dnestr Region (September, 2006) was also important.

The First sports youthful festival of the Russian compatriots of the abroad, conducted by the ICRC and the Government of Moscow in July 2006 in Moscow with the support, received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation was highly appreciated by compatriots and the public of Russia. About 600 girls and young men from 24 countries of the world participated in it.

Delegates from the ICRC actively participated in the work of the Second Congress of compatriots (St.-Petersburg, October, 2006). P. P. Sheremetev’s speech became one of the central events of the Congress. He noted the serious positive shift, which had taken place in the relation of the Russian authorities to compatriots. He simultaneously underlined the necessity of escalating of political and economic presence of our compatriots in the social and economic life of the countries of their residing, participation in development of trade and economic, scientific and technical and other cooperation with the Russian Federation.

Rewarding in 2005-2006 of three members of directing bodies (Prince N. D.Lobanov-Rostovsky, academician V. L. Kvint, Director of the Tbilisi Russian Drama Theatre Sventitsky  N. N.) became a bright example of recognition of the ICRC activity with a higher award of the Russian Federation Government — the Friendship Order, and the Chairman of the ICRC Presidium Count  P. P. Sheremetev — the higher Russian public award — Alexander Nevsky Order "For Labors and Fatherland" of the First Degree.

In 2007 under the aegis of the ICRC the "Rustour" World Tourist Network with coverage of more than 30 countries was created. Among the main activity objectives of "Rustour" is the attraction of foreign tourists to the Russian regions. The work on creation of the international store system of the Russian book is being developed.

2007 for all member organizations of the ICRC passed under the sign of preparation for the 5-th anniversary of foundation of the Council. Celebrations had been preceded by the successful realization from October18 till October 22, 2007 of a joint with the Government of Moscow mass event — The First International festival of compatriots of abroad "Russian Song" in which 450 persons from 50 countries participated. It is decided to make such festivals traditional.

In October, 22nd chiefs of the organizations participated in the anniversary meeting of the International Council of Russian Compatriots — the ICRC members, representatives of the Government of Moscow, led by Mayor of the capital Ju.M.Luzhkov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation  G. B. Karasin, Chief of Roszarubezhcentre E. V. Mitrofanova, representatives of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Russian Orthodox Church, various ministries and departments, which supervise the work with compatriots of the abroad, management of the World Macedonian Congress, etc. In the speeches and greetings of the participants of the meeting sounded appreciation of the ICRC activity as the first non-governmental organization of the Russian compatriots, recognition of importance of its role in rallying of the Russian compatriots of the abroad and strengthening of their communications with the historical Motherland.

The ICRC Presidium Chairman Count  P. P. Sheremetev expressed his thankfulness for cooperation to all the partner organizations of the ICRC, both in Russia, and abroad. He noticed, "the activity of the ICRC is favored today by positive shifts in the policy and practice of the Russian authorities in their relation to compatriots. It is favoured by the long-awaited reunion of the Russian Orthodox Church". All this "gives confidence of the further development of our organization, of the successful solution of the problems, which the Council is facing. This confidence is supported by the knowledge of the many initiative chiefs of the organizations', active workers of the movement of compatriots and major potential of the member organizations, which has not yet completely revealed". Noticing, that the ICRC is a non-political, but public organization, P. P. Sheremetev at the same time underlined, that "we are not indifferent to the fate of our compatriots, especially when their legitimate rights are infringed. Therefore, we have been rendering, and we will render to them our assistance and support in the issues of protection and realization of their legitimate rights and freedom".

At the anniversary meeting the ICRC 23 new organizations of compatriots from Armenia, Germany, Georgia, Italy, China, Moldova, Norway, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, the USA, Ukraine, Montenegro, Czechia were accepted as new members. Following the results of the meeting the total of number of the ICRC members constituted 110 organizations from 46 world's countries.

The most active ICRC members were awarded by the Memorable Sign of the ICRC "For the contribution to rallying of the Russian world" and "For the contribution to strengthening of cooperation with Russia", Gratitude of the Mayor of Moscow, reading and writing THE ICRC. 15 members of Council are awarded also public awards — Michael Lomonosova’s awards and Catherine the Great award.

During the anniversary celebrations laying of the foundation stone of the ICRC headquarters building site in the Central Administrative District of Moscow, the exhibition "Artists of the Russian abroad and Russia — to the children of Moscow" within the limits of the charitable action "Our hearts are with you" and other actions took place.

In the end of 2007 the work on nominating by organizations-members of the ICRC candidates to win the honorary award "Compatriot of the Year — 2007", from whose number in February, 2008 were two winners were selected and, during the solemn ceremony, which took place in the City Hall of Moscow, were awarded: Metropolitan Lavr — Protohierarch of the Russian Foreign Church (for the big personal contribution to the reunion of the Russian Church) and composer Sofia Gubaydulina (for propagation of Russian musical culture abroad).

2008 begun with preparation for the Second Sports Youth Festival of the Russian compatriots, which is planned for July of this year. And the ICRC Third Report and Election Conference scheduled for the autumn. In working plans of the member organizations there are various events, devoted to the Year of Family, practical seminars and conferences on issues of legal protection of compatriots, to the issues of the Russian language and education, the traditional events, devoted to national holidays, memorials of the Russian history and culture, etc.

The core ICRC activity in view of the nearest prospect are items of the federal programs on the Russian language, work with compatriots in 2006-2008 and to voluntary resettlement of compatriots to the Motherland, participation in the basic projects, the completion of which is stipulated in the programs of compatriots support of the Governmental commission on the affairs of compatriots abroad of the Russian Federation (PKDSR) and the Government of Moscow.

Among the perspective problems facing the ICRC — invigoration of business relations with the Russian regions with the purposes of rendering assistance thereby in establishment of versatile contacts with foreign countries, where the Russian compatriots have significant positions in their economic and political structures.