Russia to Open 13 Regional 'Russia' Centers by 2031
Russia is expanding the National Center 'Russia' with regional branches by 2031, spending over 5.4 billion rubles on construction, including repurposing public spaces like an oceanarium, a forest park, and a historic building, amid criticism from residents and preservationists.
Consensus
- The National Center 'Russia' is being expanded with regional branches across Russia.
- The expansion is mandated by a presidential order from July 1, 2024.
- The centers aim to demonstrate national achievements, strengthen national identity, and foster pride in the country.
- The centers host events featuring officials, pro-government lecturers, and participants of the war in Ukraine.
- The centers conduct forums, educational activities, and projects on 'traditional values'.
- Over 5.4 billion rubles have been spent on construction in Vladivostok, Khanty-Mansiysk, Krasnoyarsk, and Ryazan.
- The federal budget has allocated approximately 15 billion rubles in 2026 for the center's activities.
- The federal budget plans to spend 45.36 billion rubles on the center from 2027 to 2029.
- In Vladivostok, the center occupies a former oceanarium that operated for 35 years.
- In Ryazan, part of a city park was cleared by cutting down trees.
- In Kaliningrad, the center is planned for the site of the demolished House of Soviets.
- The project has faced opposition from residents and urban preservationists.
Points of divergence
- The National Center 'Russia' was established by a presidential order dated July 1, 2024. — novaya_eu
- The Organizing Committee of the National Center is led by First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Sergei Kiriyenko. — novaya_eu
- The center's goals include developing professional skills among children and youth. — novaya_eu
- The regional budgets have already allocated at least 1 billion rubles in Vladivostok, about 1.3 billion in Ryazan, and 1.5–1.6 billion in Krasnoyarsk and Khanty-Mansiysk. — tg_horizontal_russia
- The centers are described as ideological platforms for pro-government lectures, meetings with war participants, and events on 'traditional values'. — tg_horizontal_russia
Coverage (2 sources)
- By 2031, branches of the propaganda center 'Russia' must appear in at least 13 regions — Новая газета Европа
- Russian authorities spent more than 5.4 billion rubles on construction of regional centers of Putin propaganda — 7х7 — Горизонтальная Россия