Culture Archives - RUSSIA'S PIVOT TO ASIA

Featured November 10, 2026

President Putin Meets Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem in Moscow

Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem has been visiting Moscow at the invitation of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, where Russian President Putin awarded him the Order of Friendship for his significant contribution to strengthening friendship, cooperation and spiritual ties with Russia. The President personally presented the award to the Patriarch at the Kremlin. We discuss the historical and religious ties between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

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Featured November 10, 2026

Construction Begins For Russian Orthodox Church In Madagascar

The Russian Orthodox Church is constructing a new temple in Madagascar, alongside housing for a women’s monastic community and children in its care, according to Archpriest Dimitry Matienko, the new rector of the Transfiguration Church in the capital, Antananarivo. Madagascar has the largest Russian Orthodox Church presence in Africa, with 24 Orthodox priests and 30 parishes in the country. Christianity is the largest religion in the country.

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August 28, 2026

The 2026 Russia-China Cooperation Forum in Kazan: Results, Signed Agreements And Analysis

The 2026 Russia-China “Sprouts” business forum has just concluded in Kazan with 21 major agreements and multiple investment MoUs signed. We detail the significance of this event, the deals agreed and how this sets a new path for the development of Russia-China bilateral investments.

August 26, 2026

Russia, Vatican Talks: Finance, Religious Ministry & Ukraine Negotiations: Why This Matters – Analysis

There is more than meets the eye concerning the Vatican’s Foreign Ministerial meetings in Moscow. We examine the background and details behind the visit and why this matters as concerns the Vatican, Russia, and Ukraine.

July 22, 2026

Russian Film Streaming Service Launches In Tajikistan

Russia’s online cinema screening service Wink has just entered the Tajik market, with locals able to access over 35,000 movies, TV series and cartoons via subscription.

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June 25, 2026

Multiculturalism Not Dead: The Russia-India Bollywood Film “Persimmon Of My Love” Gets Rave Reviews

Is multiculturalism dead – or just moving away from the West to the Global South? The joint Russia-India film ‘Persimmon of my Love’ has been playing to rave reviews on a national release in Russia, while co-BRICS film productions are also underway between Russia and Brazil, China, Egypt, Iran and Indonesia amongst others.

April 7, 2026

Russia To Strengthen Ties With Islamic Countries: Lavrov

Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, has met with the Ambassadors of all the 57 Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) members, stressing the need for further cooperation and trade development. The OIC has a combined population of about 25% of the entire world’s people.

April 7, 2026

Russia, Saudi Arabia To Commence Visa-Free Travel From May 11

Russia and Saudi Arabia are to start their mutual visa-free programme from May 11. There are about 20 million Muslims in Russia, in regions such as Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Dagestan, Chechnya, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, and Karachay-Cherkessia. The annual Haj pilgrimage to Mecca runs from May 24 to Friday May 29.

March 12, 2026

Israel Attacks Russian Cultural Centre In The Lebanon

Israel has bombed the Russian Culture Centre in Lebanon, flattening the building. No-one was in the building at the time of its collapse. Moscow has called the attack an “unprovoked act of aggression”.

February 16, 2026

Russia’s Trade With Countries Celebrating The Lunar New Year Of The Horse

Monday (February 16) is Lunar New Year’s Eve and is the traditional day for families throughout Asia to come together, have a huge dinner, and wait for midnight to welcome in the beginning of a New Year. Because a year of twelve lunar months is 11 days shorter than a solar year (which determines the […]

January 21, 2026

First Russian Orthodox Church Opens In Mauritius

The first Russian Orthodox church in Mauritius was consecrated on Sunday, (January 18) on Epiphany Eve, the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa has announced. The exarchate, part of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, stated that Metropolitan Konstantin of Cairo and North Africa, who is temporarily overseeing the South African Diocese, performed the rite […]