Russian Association of Towns and Medium-Sized Cities holds project championship awards ceremony at the National Centre RUSSIA
On 10 November, the National Centre RUSSIA hosted an awards ceremony for the finalists of the Project Championship organised by the Russian Association of Towns and Medium-Sized Cities (AMSGR) for veterans, participants in the special military operation and its volunteers. The ceremony was followed by the Association's reporting and election General Assembly, at which participants reviewed its work in 2023–2026, elected its governing bodies and voted to admit the Saraktashsky Municipal District of the Orenburg Region to the Association.
Seven teams received awards. Dmitrovsky Municipal District (the Moscow Region) won the overall team competition and also took first place in the "Unbreakable Resolve" category. The other category winners were: Kalyazinsky Municipal District (the Tver Region), "The Heart of the Municipality"; Shchyolkovo, "Building for the Future"; Rybnovsky District (the Ryazan Region), "A United Team"; Velikiye Luki, "The Crisis Response Shield"; Leninsky Urban District (the Moscow Region), "Innovative Vector"; and Domodedovo, "Strategic Breakthrough". Vladimir Gazkov, representing Dmitrovsky District, was named Best Team Captain.
"Today, we must express our immense gratitude to our President, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, for putting forward this initiative for participants in the special military operation, volunteers and all those who care deeply about our country and the challenges it faces. This event will certainly lead to further great initiatives. Participants have raised a number of requests, which we will make sure to address and bring to the attention of all municipal heads and regional governors. From today, we will focus on two areas. The first is training, to prepare you to work in municipal authorities and other organisations. The second is to establish associations in every constituent entity of the Russian Federation and every municipality that will work directly with people returning from the special military operation, and above all with families in need of support. This is a shared responsibility of our state. And rest assured, we will succeed," said Valery Gavrilov, President of the Russian Association of Towns and Medium-Sized Cities.
The event also included the Association's General Assembly, at which Valery Gavrilov presented a report on its work in 2023–2026. Participants discussed priorities for 2027: geographical education and local history studies at municipal level; the development of domestic tourism and intermunicipal routes; environmental education and the protection of natural legacy; continuing the project championship and supporting veterans of the special military operation and their families; providing legal and expert assistance to local authorities; and reducing bureaucracy in public administration.
Alexander Pashkov, a deputy of the Moscow Regional Duma and Chair of the Association's Council for the Development of Local Self-Government, and Vitaly Bondar, an expert at the Heritage Institute, presented proposals for preserving natural and cultural legacy as part of the federal project "Creating a Comfortable Urban Environment".
Alexandra Soboleva, Head of Regional Business Division at DOM.RF, spoke about tools for urban development and cooperation with municipalities. DOM.RF's instruments include master plans, which help define priorities for territorial development, and infrastructure bonds, which provide funding for the construction of roads and social facilities.
Reports on the demographic strategy through to 2036 were delivered by Sergei Chesnokov, Director of the Centre for Demographic Strategies at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, and Dmitry Lyubomudrov, Co-Chair of the Council of the BRICS Industrial Coalition. For towns and medium-sized cities, this agenda is closely linked to the availability of housing, kindergartens and other services for families with children.
The Assembly also considered the application for membership submitted by Saraktashsky Municipal District of the Orenburg Region. The municipality was admitted to the Association by unanimous decision.
The Russian Association of Towns and Medium-Sized Cities is a voluntary association of municipalities in the Russian Federation. It was established in September 2000 at the initiative of municipal leaders. Its aims are to promote the development of local self-government as a political institution and a foundation of Russian civil society, and to represent the interests of towns and medium-sized cities before federal government bodies.
