On April 7, the 15th Russian Internet Governance Forum (RIGF 2025) officially opened in Moscow. The event is taking place in a hybrid format, both online and offline, with over 600 participants from 11 countries registered in it. The event’s program includes six sessions, more than 50 speakers, as well as the Virtuti Interneti awards ceremony and a presentation of the book International Internet Governance.
Andrey Vorobyev, Director of the Coordination Center for TLD .RU/.РФ, welcomed participants and emphasized that RIGF is traditionally held on the same day the .RU domain was established. He noted that this year’s forum would address the most pressing and important issues in internet governance.
“RIGF is one of the oldest national forums in the global IGF system, and 2025 is a special year for us. May 12 marks the 15th anniversary of the Cyrillic domain .РФ, which was launched at the first RIGF in 2010 and became a significant milestone in the development of Runet,” Andrey Vorobyev remarked.
Tatyana Matveyeva, Chief of the Presidential Directorate for the Development of Information and Communication Technology and Communication Infrastructure, highlighted Runet’s importance as a tool for the country’s technological, social, and cultural progress.
“We can see how Russian digital solutions are used across various sectors, improving the lives of millions of people. Despite sanctions and the departure of many Western companies, the Russian internet sector remains stable, resilient and continues to grow actively,” Tatyana Matveyeva said.
Tatyana Matveyeva also reported that the economic value of the Russian internet sector reached about 23 trillion rubles by the end of 2024, a substantial increase from 17.1 trillion rubles in 2023, reflecting nearly 20% growth. She anticipates even stronger growth in 2025, driven primarily by software and digital content, rather than e-commerce. Additionally, she invited participants to join the Global Digital Forum, scheduled to be held on June 5-6 on the sidelines of the Digital Industry of Industrial Russia (DIIR) conference in Nizhny Novgorod. This event will serve as a platform for discussing the global development of digital technologies with international partners and creating conditions for business dialogue and potential agreements on mutually beneficial digital cooperation.
Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Alexander Shoitov acknowledged the progress Runet and RIGF have made over the years but also pointed out that serious challenges remain.
“Today, the government is focusing on combatting cybercrime. The Ministry of Digital Development is implementing a range of measures, including infrastructure improvements and fast-tracking responses to scammers. In 2026, we will launch a new state counter-scamming information system, designed to coordinate and consolidate efforts across all stakeholders. The system will include the current Anti-Phishing service, but there’s still much work to be done. We need to draft bylaws, streamline law enforcement practices and build a truly comprehensive platform. A pilot project will begin later this year, with full deployment expected in 2026,” he said.
Artyom Sheikin, First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building, noted that the forum has become an essential platform for discussing key issues related to digital infrastructure, technologies and legal regulation in Russia.
“In 2025, we will proactively address several key issues, including the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and new technologies, as well as issues related to the digital security of Runet. In the context of contemporary global threats, it is important to strike a balance between promoting sovereignty in information technology and maintaining integration with the global information space,” Artyom Sheikin said.
He also mentioned the significance of the 15th anniversary of the Cyrillic domain .РФ, which will be marked on May 12, 2025.
“This milestone symbolizes progress in online linguistic and cultural presence, as well as the importance of digital sovereignty for our country,” Sheikin concluded.
Anton Gorelkin, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Information Technologies and Communications, and Chairman of the Management Board of the Regional Public Center of Internet Technologies (ROCIT), emphasized that RIGF has become a platform for shaping the future of Runet. He stressed that any powerful and independent state now strives to establish clear, transparent rules for online operations and meet the public demand for a safe and user-friendly internet environment.
RU-CENTER CEO Andrey Kuzmichev reminded the audience of last year’s completion of an ambitious project to identify hosting and domain service owners through the Integrated Identification and Authentication System.
“It took six years to implement this initiative, which was originally proposed by the RU-CENTER. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and we plan to expand this system, which is crucial for the country’s citizens. It should not be limited to just one service provider,” Kuzmichev noted.
Among the distinguished guests attending the opening ceremony were Chengetai Masango, Head of the United Nations Secretariat for the Internet Governance Forum; Alexei Goreslavsky, General Director of the Internet Development Institute; Vadim Glushchenko, Director of the Center for Global IT Cooperation Competences; and Kirill Izotov, Director of the Russian Scientific Research Institute for the Development of Public Networks (RosNIIROS).
Stay tuned for further updates as we continue to cover the events of RIGF 2025.
