On February 19, experts from the Coordination Center for TLD .RU/.РФ delivered a public lecture on “Internet Addressing: A Foundation of Digital Literacy” for students at the Razzakov Kyrgyz State Technical University (KSTU).
The event, which drew over 300 IT students, aimed to enhance digital literacy by providing a systematic understanding of the internet’s core principles and fostering skills for the safe and legal use of its resources. The visiting experts shared their extensive experience in developing Russia’s national domain space, covering topics such as the legal regulation of domain name use and strategies for protecting users from cyber fraud.
The session commenced with a welcome address from Almaz Arzybayev, Vice-Rector for Digitalization at KSTU, who underscored the critical importance of developing modern digital skills and strengthening information security within the educational sphere.
Maria Kolesnikova, Chief Analyst at the Coordination Center, provided an overview of the internet address space’s structure, the global domain name system (DNS), and the evolution of Russia’s national domains. She also highlighted the Center’s educational projects for children and youth. A key point of her presentation was the recent expansion of Cyrillic characters available for registration in the .РФ domain. In 2025, the permitted character set was broadened to include 26 letters from 18 Russia’s official native languages.
Andrey Vorobyev, Director of the Coordination Center, delved into the legal intricacies of registering and using names in the .RU and .РФ domains. He placed special emphasis on the necessity of verifying domain names against registered trademarks and discussed relevant judicial practices in domain disputes. Registering a domain name that is similar to a trademark can be deemed unfair competition by a court, Andrey Vorobyev cautioned, also offering advice on how to retain an already registered domain in the event of a legal challenge.
Yevgeny Pankov, a data analyst at the Center, presented an analysis of modern phishing techniques and real-world cases of fraudulent attacks. He provided students with practical tips on how to identify fake websites and avoid becoming a victim of online scams.
Yevgeny Glotov, a leading engineer at AsiaInfo (the registry for the .KG top-level domain), explained the lifecycle of domain names in Kyrgyzstan’s own country-code domain, covering registration, use, and management.
The formal presentations were followed by an interactive team quiz, Explore the Internet & Govern It. The game challenged students to apply their newly acquired knowledge about the internet and cybersecurity basics in a fun, competitive format, with all participants receiving prizes and gifts from the Coordination Center.
Reflecting on the initiative, Andrey Vorobyev stated:
“Our experts’ participation in KSTU’s public lecture series is a prime example of fruitful collaboration with higher education institutions in neighboring countries. For students, it’s a unique chance to learn about the internet and its addressing system, and to hear about current trends and security challenges directly from leading experts. For us, it’s an opportunity to share our experience and pass on knowledge to the next generation.”
Following the public lectures, the Coordination Center delegation held an official meeting with the leadership of Kyrgyz State Technical University. Representing KSTU were Rector Mirlan Chynybayev, Vice-Rector for Digitalization Almaz Arzybayev, and Director of the Educational and Social Activities Department Madina Myrzalieva.
The discussions focused on future cooperation, including the development of joint public awareness initiatives in digital literacy and information security, as well as the organization of further expert-led events for university students.
The talks concluded with an agreement to expand their partnership and foster systematic collaboration in the field of digital competency development.
