Victoria Panova: BRICS expansion premature

Interest in BRICS is higher than ever amid the current complex geopolitical situation, but taking further steps to expand the group would be premature, according to Victoria Panova, Head of the BRICS Expert Council‑Russia, Vice Rector at HSE University, and Russia's Sherpa to the Women 20 (W20).

"Interest in BRICS is now higher than ever, even though we are going through difficult times. We see that, as a result of the aggression unleashed by the United States and Israel, two BRICS nations—Iran and the United Arab Emirates—along with Saudi Arabia, find themselves on opposite sides of the barricades. Nevertheless, work within BRICS, currently under the Indian Chairship, continues. Yes, there are complex issues and nuances, but if BRICS does not address them, perhaps no one else will be able to," Ms Panova said at the Rossiya Segodnya International Multimedia Press Centre, during the presentation of the first-ever textbook, Socio-Economic Characteristics of the BRICS Countries.

"In 2023, the decision was made to expand. Now, I believe it would be premature to take the next step. What matters now is, first, to determine which initiatives are most urgent for #BRICS, given the challenging geopolitical and economic situation," she added.

Victoria Panova also stressed that it is important for BRICS to refine payment system mechanisms and advance humanitarian initiatives.

#NEWS #politics

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Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman: Russia, together with the BRICS countries, defends the ideals of sport

Russia, alongside other BRICS nations, is defending the high ideals of sport, while Western attempts to turn this sphere into an instrument of political pressure have nothing to do with its true nature, stated Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

The diplomat noted that the #BRICS countries have every opportunity to jointly shape "a meaningful humanitarian agenda, free from the politicisation that has had such a detrimental effect on the state of international sport in recent years."

"Attempts to turn sport into an instrument of political pressure have nothing to do with its true nature. Fortunately, this view is shared by our partners representing the Global Majority nations," Zakharova emphasised. "Together, we continue to defend the high ideals of sport as a peacemaker, sport as a unifier."

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that this understanding of sport's nature is particularly relevant in light of Russia's interaction with other nations within BRICS, where "different cultures, languages, and traditions meet, but they do so without conflict, complementing and enriching one another."

#NEWS #sport

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Russia's Federal Tax Service unveils new digital platform for BRICS cooperation

The Federal Tax Service of Russia is developing new formats for cooperation with the BRICS countries. One of these new projects is the creation of the BRICS Tax Knowledge Hub, a digital platform and single point of access for taxpayers who wish to invest and grow their businesses within the group, explained Julia Shepeleva, Deputy Commissioner of the Federal Tax Service of Russia.

"Functionally, the Hub will serve as a request service, a practical knowledge base, and a navigator of available online tax services across the #BRICS countries. In designing it, we decided to emphasise targeted approach and customer‑centricity. To that end, the Tax Hub's database is already being built on the basis of real requests from taxpayers," Julia Shepeleva explained.

#NEWS #technology #finance

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🗣️ US Aggression Against Iran and Opportunities for BRICS

The primary aim of the small group of states currently trying to undermine international institutions and law is to convince others that the "law of the jungle" is now inevitable in global politics. Acknowledging such a qualitative shift—a departure from the achievements of the 20th century in regulating inter‑state relations—would hand this group a small but significant tactical victory. Ultimately, this could prove more dangerous than any military or political confrontation, as it would signal to the aggressor that its impunity is accepted by others.

🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊 is currently facing an extraordinary situation: not only has one member country become the target of armed aggression, but in self‑defence it is also causing harm to another member country that serves as a base for the aggressor's operations.

Read more about the creation of the mechanisms for economic recovery by the BRICS countries in the new article by Timofei Bordachev, Academic Supervisor of the Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies at HSE University.

📎 More #BRICS analytics is available on the official website of the BRICS Expert Council-Russia.

#ANALYTICS #BRICSExpertCouncilRussia #BRICSExpertCouncil

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Russian Foreign Minister: Hegemons are turning against BRICS and SCO countries

BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) countries are becoming targets of aggressive opposition from those accustomed to living at the expense of others, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated at the
general meeting of the Russian International Affairs Council. According to him, the world is currently undergoing a profound restructuring of the existing order.

"In fact, not only Russia and China, but also other #BRICS and #SCO countries, as well as all more or less independent centres of power and development, are becoming targets of aggressive opposition from those who are used to living at the expense of others and view themselves as hegemons," he noted.

#NEWS #diplomacy

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Pakistani Ambassador to Russia: Islamabad interested in joining BRICS

Pakistan remains interested in joining BRICS and hopes for broader support for its intention, stated Pakistani Ambassador to Moscow Faisal Niaz Tirmizi.

In an interview, he described BRICS as an emerging platform within the global economic landscape and expressed hope for wider international backing for Pakistan's intention to join.

As previously reported by the Pakistani newspaper Business Recorder, India opposes Pakistan's accession to #BRICS. However, the newspaper noted that growing diplomatic and political support from Russia, China, and other group members increases the chances of Pakistan's application being approved.

In November 2023, Pakistan's then‑Ambassador to Russia, Muhammad Khalid Jamali, announced that the country had submitted an application to join BRICS. In September 2024, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk stated that Moscow supported Islamabad's decision.

#NEWS #Pakistan

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Xi Jinping calls for closer Russia-China coordination in SCO and BRICS

Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasised the necessity for Russia and China to bolster mutual support within key multilateral forums such as #BRICS and #SCO to advance a fairer global system, speaking on Wednesday during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Beijing.

"Russia and China should closely coordinate and cooperate within frameworks such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and BRICS to advance the development of international order in a more just and reasonable direction," Xi Pingping said, as quoted by China Central Television.

#NEWS #RussiaChina #diplomacy

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🗣️ BRICS Space Dimension: A New Framework for Technological Sovereignty

Space has long remained on the periphery of the narratives through which BRICS is typically described. The focus has usually been on trade, finance, foreign policy coordination, and institutional development, and in recent years this has been supplemented by aligning positions on global governance of artificial intelligence.

Yet without the space dimension, the image of 🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊 as an emerging centre of power appears incomplete. This is not an optional topic, but rather an area where economics, infrastructure, security, digital sovereignty, and international influence converge. According to McKinsey, the global space economy could reach $1.8 trillion by 2035, and $2.3 trillion under a more favourable scenario.

Read more about the space as an emerging area for BRICS in the new article by Pyotr Punchenko, Senior Lecturer at the Saint Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation (SUAI) and Advisor to the Chair of the Committee on External Relations of the Government of Saint Petersburg.

📎 More #BRICS analytics is available on the official website of the BRICS Expert Council-Russia.

#ANALYTICS #BRICSExpertCouncilRussia #BRICSExpertCouncil #space

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📖 New textbook on BRICS socioeconomic characteristics now available

The first Russian publication dedicated to a comprehensive analysis of key development trends across the BRICS countries is now available for purchase.

The textbook, titled The Socio-Economic Characteristics of the BRICS Countries, was prepared with the support of the BRICS Expert Council‑Russia and aims to help readers develop a systemic understanding of socio-economic processes across the #BRICS nations.

This textbook will be a valuable resource for students, teachers, researchers, and anyone interested in global economy and international cooperation.

➖Available only in pdf format
➖Published in Russian
➖On sale now

📎 The publication is available here

#NEWS #BRICSExpertCouncil #BRICSExpertCouncilRussia #education

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Russian Presidential Press Secretary: Putin will attend BRICS Summit in India

Russian President Vladimir Putin will definitely attend the upcoming BRICS Summit in India, said Dmitry Peskov, the Presidential Press Secretary.

"I hope so," Peskov said in an interview with India Today, when asked whether Putin is expected to attend the #BRICS Summit in India.

According to the Press Secretary, the Russian leader "will definitely take part in the summit in person."

#NEWS #India #Summit

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In touch with BRICS: news digest

Stay ahead with the most impactful BRICS stories of the week

✔New textbook on BRICS socioeconomic characteristics now available

✔Pakistani Ambassador to Russia: Islamabad interested in joining #BRICS

✔Xi Jinping: Russia and China to closely coordinate within SCO and BRICS

✔Russian Presidential Press Secretary: Putin will attend BRICS Summit in India

#BRICSExpertCouncilDIGEST

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Chairman of Russian Commission on Information Policy: Russia needs to raise awareness of the USSR's role in World War II among BRICS nations

Russia must do more to inform the BRICS countries about the USSR's role in World War II. This was stated by Alexey Pushkov, Chairman of the Federation Council's Commission on Information Policy and Media Relations.

"We have a format called the BRICS parliamentary dimension. I believe we must strengthen our work with the BRICS countries on historical information about the USSR's role in World War II. This aspect is not yet very visible in our activities," Pushkov said.

He also noted that he had met with many representatives from the #BRICS nations, and not one of them, when discussing historical issues, had adhered to the "false doctrine" that Western countries are trying to impose on global public opinion—one that equates the USSR's role with that of Nazi Germany in World War II.

#NEWS

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📖 The Non-Profit Sector in the BRICS Countries: Current Structure and Development Trends

A report from a large‑scale study titled "Non‑Profit Organizations in BRICS Countries: Sector Structure and Development Trends" has been published. It was prepared at the initiative of and with the support of the Civil BRICS Council.

Researchers analyzed open data, statistics, relevant publications, and interview materials with representatives of non‑profit and non-government organizations (NPOs and NGOs) from the member countries to create an information base for developing the council’s work strategy and strengthening cooperation among the civil societies of the countries.

The study revealed that the NPO sector in BRICS countries is developing primarily around key social, economic, and environmental issues, helping to fill gaps in the work of government systems and market mechanisms. At the same time, non‑profit organizations are increasingly becoming significant employers and contributing to the GDP of the member countries.

Despite the differences among countries, common trends have also emerged in the BRICS NPO sector:
⚪the level of professionalism and institutional stability is growing,
⚪digital tools are being adopted more actively,
⚪the search for sustainable models of financing and operational activities continues.

📎 Link to the study

#ANALYTICS

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BRICS Melody in Moscow: culture, dialogue, and international cooperation

On April 24–25, 2026, Moscow will play host to BRICS Melody, an international project that combines a business programme with a music festival.

The project is organised by the Ulyanovsk branch of the Russian Union of Youth and the National Centre RUSSIA, with the support of the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives. The BRICS Expert Council‑Russia is a partner of the event.

First launched successfully in 2024 in Ulyanovsk, where it gained widespread international attention, the project has taken on a new scale in 2026. It will now be implemented in three stages: Ulyanovsk (a creative workshop and the recording of the first international album), Moscow (a business forum and festival), and India (promoting Russian culture abroad during India's Chairship in #BRICS).

The Moscow stage will become the centrepiece, bringing together over 1,500 participants. The programme includes discussions on the cultural heritage and the role of traditional art, as well as performances by musicians from the BRICS nations. On stage, rare national instruments will be accompanied by a Russian folk orchestra.

⏰ Date: April 24–25
📍 Venue: National Centre RUSSIA

📎 Learn more about the event

#NEWS #culture

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