On April 7, the 16th Russian Internet Governance Forum (RIGF 2026) opened in Moscow. This year’s event spans two days – April 7 and 8 – and features nine sessions, more than 60 speakers, the Virtuti Interneti award ceremony, and the presentation of an expert collection of articles, titled The Internet Today and Tomorrow – 2026. The forum is taking place in a hybrid format, with over 700 participants from 18 countries registered to take part.
Director of the Coordination Center for TLD .RU/.РФ Andrey Vorobyev welcomed participants to the forum. He noted that RIGF is traditionally held on the anniversary of the .RU domain and highlighted that, over its 32-year history, the domain has grown to a scale unimaginable in 1994 – surpassing 6 million domain names for the first time last fall. He also drew attention to another milestone:
“This year, the Coordination Center for TLD .RU/.РФ marks its 25th anniversary. For a quarter of a century, the Center has ensured the stable, secure, and uninterrupted operation of Russia’s domain infrastructure,” Andrey Vorobyev added.
“The forum’s sixteen-year history demonstrates that it remains a leading platform for everyone involved in shaping the digital development agenda. We have gathered here to discuss the future of the internet, and today’s program features a full schedule of discussions,” the Coordination Center Director noted.
Tatyana Matveyeva, Chief of the Russian Presidential Directorate for the Development of Information and Communications Technologies and Infrastructure, noted that Russia is among the three countries that have achieved comprehensive digital sovereignty.
“In many respects, this is reflected in the services we use every day – search engines, e-government platforms, email services, mobile app stores, a national payment system, domestic social networks, and video hosting platforms. It can be said that a sovereign digital ecosystem has been established within the Runet,” she emphasized.
Sergey Boyarsky, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Information Technology and Communications, noted that while the internet is inherently transnational, it remains important to ensure the creation of secure spaces within it.
“This is a complex challenge that my colleagues and I are addressing collectively. The internet can create a dangerous environment, especially for children and the elderly, if it operates without clear rules. That is why it is essential to ensure compliance with established regulations and with the laws of the Russian Federation, as well as those of any sovereign state that upholds its digital sovereignty. Over the past year, our committee, together with the Digital Development Committee, the Ministry of Digital Development, Communication, and Mass Media, and the Presidential Executive Office, has focused on combating online fraud. Through joint efforts, we were able to promptly adopt a comprehensive set of measures aimed at countering this harmful phenomenon,” he said.
Deputy Minister of Digital Development Alexander Shoitov spoke about ongoing efforts to counter cyberattacks and fraud.
“The government is implementing systemic measures: legislation on critical infrastructure has been adopted, technical requirements for trusted software are being developed, and mechanisms are being strengthened to counter cyber threats. In 2025, the first package of ‘antifraud’ measures was introduced, and a second package has now passed its first reading. Taken together, these steps will enhance the resilience of Russia’s information infrastructure,” he said.
Representatives of the global internet governance community traditionally take part in the forum. In his welcoming remarks, Chengetai Masango, head of the United Nations Secretariat for the Internet Governance Forum, underscored the significance of the issues addressed at RIGF. He noted that this year, the focus would be on the future of the internet – its priorities, key challenges, and prospects for cooperation, both at national and international levels.
Runity Group CEO Andrey Kuzmichev noted that updating registration data is becoming a key priority in light of upcoming requirements for identifying domain registrants. He urged market participants to raise user awareness in order to minimize the risk of losing control over their digital assets.
“The industry is undergoing profound changes – the role of domains as a core element of internet infrastructure is being substantially strengthened, and the regulatory framework is evolving accordingly. The Russian Internet Governance Forum has traditionally provided a platform for direct dialogue between government, business, and the professional community on internet governance issues. Now, as we prepare for new regulations to come into force, such dialogue is especially important,” Kuzmichev emphasized.
According to him, Rucenter – one of Russia’s largest domain registrars and part of the Runity Group – is the first one to have introduced identification of domains registered to legal entities through the Unified Identification and Authentication System (ESIA), in line with the new legislative requirements.
CEO of the Technical Center of Internet Alexey Rogdev noted that the internet in Russia is evolving into a mature institution with clear rules and predictable logic.
“Today, the industry is entering a phase of maturity: regulatory frameworks are taking shape, legislative oversight is expanding, and the infrastructure continues to develop. This is a natural progression, and we expect it will strengthen the entire system, making it more stable, secure, and transparent for all participants. Our shared goal is to preserve the culture of cooperation and openness that has long defined the Runet, while ensuring both technological and legal stability,” Alexey Rogdev said.
The forum continued with a plenary session, WSIS+20: A Quarter Century in Building the Information Society – From Words to Action? Its participants discussed the principles of international cooperation in digital development, practical approaches to digital collaboration, tools for countering disinformation and harmful content, the need to regulate deepfake technologies, key areas of disagreement, and the prospects for sustaining meaningful dialogue in the context of a shifting global agenda. The session was moderated by Maria Bolshakova.
Artur Lyukmanov of the Russian Foreign Ministry spoke about the development of the Global Digital Compact and the adjustments it underwent during its preparation. He emphasized that a key expectation for global corporations today is to act with respect toward other countries and companies, taking their interests into account.
Alexey Borodin of the Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications noted that the world is increasingly experiencing internet fragmentation, as many countries have concluded that it is difficult to guarantee the safety of their citizens within a fully cross-border network, making nationally oriented regulation necessary. He also emphasized the importance of developing common regulatory approaches through dialogue with neighboring countries.
Alexander Shoitov highlighted the urgent need to regulate deepfake technologies, particularly in cases where they pose risks. He noted that deepfakes are increasingly used by fraudsters and extremist groups, as well as for the spread of disinformation, making regulatory measures essential. According to him, labeling different types of content could be an effective way to address the issue, while modern detection technologies are already capable of identifying up to 90% of deepfakes.
Alexey Goreslavsky of the Internet Development Institute (IRI) emphasized that the internet is not, and cannot be, a sterile environment – no matter the effort, it will always contain a wide range of content.
“Our task is to ensure that projects reflecting national values prevail in attracting audience attention,” he said. He also highlighted the coordinated work across different parts of the government system in informing the public and blocking fraudulent schemes. “Content is an integral part of this system and plays its own role. For example, with the Institute’s support, popular bloggers have released viral videos addressing fraud and manipulation. Three such videos have garnered over 2 million views on VK alone, which means at least several thousand people may have been protected,” Alexey Goreslavsky noted.
Dmitry Gulyaev of the Russian Association for Electronic Communications and Gitanjali Sah of the International Telecommunication Union also took part in the session.
The forum continues – stay tuned for further updates in our upcoming publications.
