The 16th Russian Internet Governance Forum was held in Moscow on April 7-8 in a hybrid format. Over 600 participants attended the forum in person across two days, while more than 5,000 joined online. The program featured nine sessions with 67 expert speakers.
Andrey Vorobyev, Director of the Coordination Center for TLD .RU/.РФ, noted that the forum traditionally coincided with the anniversary of the .RU ccTLD, which now has over 6.1 million registered domain names. In 2025 alone, registrations increased by nearly 253,000 (over 4 percent), with regions being key contributors.
Tatyana Matveeva, Head of the Presidential Directorate for the Development of Information and Communication Technologies and Communication Infrastructure, reported that more than 130 million people (93 percent of Russia’s population) use the internet, placing the country among a small number of states with established digital sovereignty.
Sergey Boyarsky, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Informational Policy, Technology and Communications, announced that a framework draft law on AI regulation would be submitted to the State Duma in May. He also highlighted that a comprehensive package of anti-cyberfraud measures adopted in 2025 has resulted in the stabilization and decline in cybercrime levels for the first time in Russia.
Alexander Shoitov, Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media, addressed ongoing efforts to counter cyberattacks and fraud. He highlighted the need to regulate AI technologies, particularly to combat deepfakes and disinformation, suggesting that labeling AI-generated content could serve as an effective tool in this area.
Alexey Goreslavsky of the Institute for Internet Development (IRI) noted that in 2024-2025, Russian TV series accounted for 85 percent of audience share, while foreign series accounted for 40 percent. According to the speaker, import substitution in the gaming industry is progressing more slowly, with potential results expected within 3-5 years.
Dmitry Gulyaev of the Russian Association of Electronic Communications (RAEC) presented practical steps that RAEC, as an organization that brings businesses together, has taken to build a new architecture for international digital cooperation.
The forum also featured the Virtuti Interneti award ceremony. The award went to Karen Kazaryan, Director of Analytics at the Digital Economy autonomous non-profit organization and General Director of the Internet Research Institute.
During the RIGF 2026closing ceremony, participants reviewed the forum’s performance, presented results from the 6th Youth Special Course, and showcased the Youth Theses on Internet Governance. The Center for Global IT Cooperation introduced a new collection of essays, Internet Today and Tomorrow.
Andrey Vorobyev, Director of the Coordination Center, emphasized that though the forum concluded, the dialogue went on: “We leave this venue with new questions, new contacts, and most importantly, with the understanding that digital development requires ongoing, honest, and professional discussion.”
Read more about the forum in our follow-up press release.
Forum highlights are also available in the photo album.
The Russian Internet Governance Forum is organized by the Coordination Center for TLD .RU/.РФ and the Center for Global IT Cooperation, with the support of the Russian Ministry of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media.
General partner of the forum: Technical Center of Internet; strategic partner: Russian Institute for Public Networks (RIPN); partner: Runity
General information partner: TASS
Official media partner: Rambler&Co
Official video partner: RUTUBE
Strategic information partners: Izvestiya Multimedia Information Center and Rossiyskaya Gazeta Media Holding
Information partners: Public News Service, PRIME Economic Information Agency, Vechernyaya Moskva newspaper, Moscow Region Public Information Agency (RIAMO), INFOX Media Group, Otkrytye Sistemy (Open Systems) Publishing House, News.ru, D-Russia.ru, ComNews.ru, Hi-Tech Mail, Cyber Media, Computerra, ICT-Online.ru, ICT2GO.ru, IT-WORLD.RU, Mobile Telecommunications, Telecomtimes.ru, IT Market Bestsellers, Наука.рф, First National online news outlet, HELPINVER – Discover a New Russia, Bankiros.ru and Global Digital Space websites, as well as the magazines Kompaniya (Company), High Life and Business, Vestnik Svyazi (Communications Bulletin) and Connect: The World of Information Technology.
