"I wish you peace, happiness and kindness": Sergei Kiriyenko leaves wishes for participants of the International Festival of Youth —2026
Sergei Kiriyenko, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office of the Russian Federation, visited the National Centre RUSSIA stand at the International Festival of Youth —2026 (IFY-2026) in Yekaterinburg. He explored the Department Store, expositions featuring items of traditional handicrafts, a zone showcasing products featuring quotes from President of Russia Vladimir Putin, as well as a model of the new National Centre RUSSIA building in Moscow.
At the stand, the First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office also met with graduates of the first cohort of the National Centre RUSSIA Young Journalists School. The young journalists presented Sergei Kiriyenko with a special version of a nevalyashka (roly-poly toy) depicting Cheburashka, the famous animated character. The toy was created by the National Centre RUSSIA for IFY-2026 in Yekaterinburg.
Sergei Kiriyenko also viewed the National Centre RUSSIA "Nevalyashki" ("Roly-Poly Toys") art installation. The composition consists of 250 colourful figures arranged in a single wave. Each festival participant can choose a toy, add a sticker featuring their country's flag and write their words of encouragement for other participants before returning it to the collective composition. At the end of the festival, the nevalyashkas will become souvenirs for visitors. On one of the toys, Sergei Kiriyenko left the message: "I wish you peace, happiness and kindness."
The National Centre RUSSIA stand is welcoming visitors in Yekaterinburg from 13 to 16 September as part of the festival's "Cultural Code" thematic space. The exposition features products and traditional crafts from different parts of Russia, including sweets, tea and cosmetics, as well as ceramics, jewellery, textiles and other works by decorative and applied arts artisans.
The Young Journalists School of the National Centre RUSSIA is a place where a simple interest can grow into a profession and dreams can become reality.
On 3 September, the National Centre RUSSIA hosted a press conference marking the launch of the second season of its original project, the "Young Journalists School".
