С Днём отца! ❤️ Сегодня в России отмечают День отца, и мне хочется поздравить с этим праздником всех отцов - независимо от того, из какой вы страны, какой культуры или традиции. И, конечно, будущих отцов - мальчиков, которые однажды вырастут и сами станут папами. Будьте чемпионами! Будьте опорой для своих семей, примером для своих детей и той силой, на которую приятно смотреть и которой хочется восхищаться. Берегите свои семьи. Берегите своих детей. Будьте рядом не только в счастливые моменты, но и тогда, когда особенно нужны поддержка, забота и мудрость. И, пожалуй, самое главное - всегда оставайтесь людьми, чьи качества достойны уважения. Ведь дети смотрят на нас, учатся у нас и во многом становятся такими, какими видят нас каждый день. Они перенимают не только наши слова, но и наши поступки, отношение к людям, умение держать слово, проявлять доброту, быть ответственными и сильными. Поэтому, дорогие отцы и будущие папы, помните: быть отцом - значит не просто растить ребёнка, а каждый день показывать ему своим примером, каким человеком можно и нужно быть. Пусть у каждого ребёнка будет повод гордиться своим отцом, а у каждого отца - повод гордиться своими детьми. С праздником всех отцов и будущих отцов мира! ❤️🏆

Every journey begins with a first step. Art is a wonderful way to build bridges between cultures, share ideas, and express appreciation beyond words. And of course, when visiting friends, one should never arrive empty-handed! A small personal creation can be a thoughtful gesture, accompanied by meaningful conversations and ideas worth sharing. Looking forward to seeing you soon in the United Arab Emirates. This is only the beginning - with much more to create, discover, and share along the way.

Happy World Mental Health Day! 🍂🧡 Our mental health shapes how we see the world, build relationships, and navigate everyday challenges. In a world where we are constantly connected, it is important to make time to slow down and reconnect with ourselves - through creativity, sports, reading, walks in nature, or simply moments of quiet. May we all find what grounds us, brings us inner strength, and helps us feel connected to ourselves and the world around us. Sometimes, it is the simplest things that bring us back into balance. 🌿

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! 🌕🏮 Wishing our Chinese and Asian friends, colleagues and partners a beautiful Mid-Autumn Festival filled with harmony, happiness, prosperity and togetherness. Having spent many years in Singapore, where cultures and traditions beautifully come together, I have always cherished the spirit of connection and friendship that this season represents. May the full moon bring light to new beginnings, the warmth of lanterns bring people closer, and this special season remind us of the importance of family, friendship and meaningful connections. May the moon shine brightly over you and your loved ones. 中秋快乐！ Zhōngqiū kuàilè! - Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! 🌕✨

A glimpse from the St. Petersburg International United Cultures Forum, with cultural leaders and international guests from across the Arab world and beyond - including representatives of Qatar, Palestine and Libya, and Pierre de Gaulle, grandson of Charles de Gaulle. St. Petersburg is a city where cultures meet, conversations begin, and differences can become a reason for dialogue rather than distance. Despite the grey autumn weather and the famous St. Petersburg blues, it is beautiful to see our city welcoming guests from different parts of the world and creating a space to talk, listen, understand and exchange. This is what forums like this are about. And I hope we will see more of these meaningful cultural exchanges - not only in St. Petersburg, but around the world. Because despite everything that may divide us, finding a way to communicate is itself something worth celebrating. Thank you to all the guests who chose St. Petersburg as a place for this conversation. Welcome! 🇷🇺

🌍 XII St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum From September 24–26, 2026, St. Petersburg hosts the XII St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum, bringing together leading cultural figures, government representatives, experts and professionals from Russia and abroad. The Forum’s programme covers music, cinema, media culture, museums, theatre, circus, cultural heritage, education in culture, and the intersection of culture and technology. The main venues include the General Staff Building of the State Hermitage Museum, the State Hermitage, the St. Petersburg Academic Capella, the Stieglitz Academy, the Bolshoi St. Petersburg State Circus and Mariinsky-2. A special part of the programme is dedicated to the “St. Petersburg Seasons” Culture Festival, with exhibitions, museums, excursions, concerts and theatrical performances across the city. A unique opportunity to explore how culture, education and technology are shaping the future - right in the cultural heart of St. Petersburg.

Happy Emirati Women’s Day! My warmest congratulations to all Emirati women and to the visionary leadership of the UAE. Your strength, ambition and contribution to business, technology, innovation and society are truly inspiring. Wishing every Emirati woman continued success, empowerment and new opportunities to shape the future. With great respect and admiration. 🇦🇪✨

Finnish Concentration Camps: What It Was Like This stone in Petrozavodsk stands at the site of Concentration Camp No. 5. Living conditions there, as in other Finnish camps, were exceptionally harsh. LIVING CONDITIONS Finnish researcher Y. Kulomaa describes the situation as follows: “The concentration camps were located in workers’ districts on the outskirts of the city, where large (log) buildings were situated… The best of them consisted of apartments with one room and a kitchen; the worst were low barracks where, on both sides of a dark central corridor, there were miserable rooms with a stove… According to the December report (1941), all the buildings, at least in Camp No. 5, required repairs… A 20-square-meter room often housed three adults and four children, which meant less than three square meters per person.” According to Soviet sources, living conditions in the concentration camps were even worse than described by the Finnish author: “The population confined in the concentration camp was accommodated so densely that in a room measuring 15–20 square meters there were between 20 and 25 people, meaning that each person had one square meter of living space. As a result of such overcrowding and the creation of unbearable, inhuman living conditions, various infectious diseases (dysentery, typhus, scurvy, etc.) spread rapidly throughout the concentration camps.” In the memoirs of prisoner E. V. Lakhina, who was held in Concentration Camp No. 5 in Petrozavodsk, the terrible living and sanitary conditions are described as follows: “Six to seven families lived in rooms measuring 15–20 square meters. There was no bathhouse or laundry in the camp… No soap was issued at all. There was widespread infestation with lice among the prisoners. The inhuman living conditions in the camp led to epidemics of scurvy, dysentery, and typhus.” People were forcibly herded into the camps, with several families placed in a single room. They were forced to take out their personal belongings, while blankets, watches, suitcases, and food were confiscated. The property and livestock of Slavs driven into the camps were taken away and handed over to “liberated brothers by blood.” People slept on the floor without any bedding. No medical assistance was provided. COMPULSORY LABOR AND DAILY ROUTINE The internal organization of the Petrozavodsk camps was structured as follows. Senior householders were appointed as camp commandants and were responsible for maintaining order in the houses and apartments and for reporting incidents to the commandant every day. At 7 a.m., groups of prisoners left for work. The working day lasted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a 20–30-minute lunch break. Upon returning from work, prisoners could be assigned additional collective work inside the camp. After 8 p.m., movement around the camp was prohibited. Similarly harsh living conditions existed in Concentration Camp No. 6. Prisoner M. P. Savin testified: “The living and sanitary conditions for the civilians were exceptionally poor: all the barracks were overcrowded, there was no bathhouse or laundry, no soap was issued, and as a result there was widespread infestation with lice.” Conditions in the concentration camps in other districts of the republic were no better. In a letter from Buldakova, who was held in a concentration camp in the settlement of Ilyinsky, she wrote: “The camp was located on the territory of a timber mill, surrounded by two rows of barbed wire and guarded by sentries. We were housed in barracks. Each room had a table made of boards, with two benches beside it; in the corner near the door there was a stove, and along the wall there were bare bunks. The Finns checked that people were present in the barracks, including at night.” From the very beginning of the war, the Finnish leadership had plans for the economic exploitation of the non-Finnish population. In the Soviet Karelia territories occupied by Finland, universal compulsory labor was introduced for people aged 15 to 60. Prisoner labor was used both inside the camps and outside them, at various enterprises in Petrozavodsk: at the Onega Plant, the bakery, and in the restoration of the power station. Many prisoners were forced to clean streets and dismantle old wooden houses. Some prisoners were sent to logging operations and agricultural work in nearby districts. Initially, there were no regulations governing prisoner labor, and all seven days of the week were working days. No wages were provided in 1941–1942. Later, prisoners began receiving between 3 and 7 Finnish marks per day, and eventually even more — up to 20 marks. In the account of Leningrad resident K. I. Bogdanov, a former prisoner of Petrozavodsk Concentration Camp No. 2, he emphasized: “The working day in the camp lasted from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. Moreover, the evening work carried out within the camp was purely abusive in nature. People were forced to perform completely meaningless tasks: carrying heavy stones from one place to another, moving a fence from one place to another, and so on. The pointlessness of this work was so obvious that people approached it with horror.” A weekly day off was introduced in the camps only from the end of March 1942. From that point onward, the prisoners’ working day was limited to eight hours. FOOD FOR THE PRISONERS Two types of food rations were established for concentration-camp prisoners: A for those who did not work and B for those who worked. The established food-ration quotas were theoretical, since there was no possibility of providing the corresponding quantities of food. From September 1943, prisoners received 200–300 grams of bread, 50% of which consisted of inedible additives. Sometimes they were given 50 grams of spoiled sausage or a piece of moldy cheese for three days, and occasionally 50 grams of horse meat. In search of food, people in spring would dig out from beneath the snow cats and dogs that had been killed during the winter and autumn and eat their worm-infested meat. They hunted rats and frogs and shot crows with slingshots. Some managed to steal potato peelings from Finnish horse stables, but they were brutally beaten for doing so. BEATINGS AND BURIALS By the end of the occupation, between one-quarter and one-third of all prisoners were being forced to work. The productivity of prisoner labor was low because of starvation and disease. Corporal punishment was widely used. Prisoners were beaten for failing to meet production quotas, for stacking firewood incorrectly, for showing insufficient deference to guards and officials, and, of course, for leaving the camp without authorization. T. V. Popova, who survived Petrozavodsk Concentration Camp No. 2, knew the Finnish language and was therefore assigned to the headquarters as a clerk. She reported: “People were swollen from starvation; they were dying. Relatives were forbidden from accompanying the deceased. The high mortality rate was caused not only by semi-starvation but also by exhausting labor. The Finns forced everyone to work — children aged seven and older, pregnant women, very elderly people, and the sick. The commandant of Concentration Camp No. 2, Lieutenant Salovaara, did not hesitate to personally beat small children.” Soviet troops liberated Petrozavodsk from the Finnish occupation, which had lasted almost three years, on June 28, 1944. To this day, there are no precise figures for how many Soviet people died in Finnish concentration camps for civilians. Historians give estimates ranging from 3,500 to 7,000. No Finns recorded deaths in the camps because, at the time, this allegedly had no significant importance for them.

My dear Singapore, Happy National Day! 🇸🇬 To Singapore, its people, its communities, its leaders, and everyone who has contributed in their own way to making Singapore the country we know today: I wish you prosperity, strength, good health, and every success for the road ahead. I truly believe that the size of a country does not determine the size of its possibilities. When people care about their country, take responsibility for its future, and remain committed to building a better society, they can achieve extraordinary things. Singapore has shown this to the world. I was fortunate to spend many years of my life in Singapore, and I will always be grateful for what this country gave me: Opportunities, friendships, experiences, lessons, and a perspective on what is possible when people choose to build rather than simply accept what already exists. From where I am today, I also want to say that I hope there will always be opportunities for people from Singapore and Russia to meet, travel, learn from one another, and build meaningful cultural, educational, business, and human connections. The world is going through complicated times, and many things are beyond the control. But I believe that friendship between people should always have a place — regardless of circumstances. Countries may have different histories, interests and perspectives. But people can still meet, listen to one another, exchange ideas, create together and discover what we have in common. I will always value people who remain honest, genuine, open-minded and human; people who can maintain friendship, respect and mutual understanding even when the world around us becomes complicated. And perhaps this is one of the things I admire most about Singapore: Its belief that being small does not mean thinking small. It means being brave enough to look beyond your borders, curious enough to learn from the world, and confident enough to build your own future. Above all, I wish Singaporeans good health and wellbeing. Living in our modern world, protecting our health and building healthier communities has become more important than ever. I believe we still have a lot to learn, but I also believe in our ability to create a healthier, more conscious and more human future. I hope that one day we will meet again. We will exchange ideas. We will build things together. We will sing together. We will celebrate together. And we will continue moving forward — bold, strong, independent and prosperous. Happy National Day, my dear Singapore. 🇸🇬 With love and warm wishes from me and Lorenzo, from my hometown. I hope to see you again in the next chapter. ❤️ Majulah Singapura.

Has anyone heard any updates regarding the new Russian Cultural Centre in Singapore? The original timeline seems to have passed, and there has been very little public information. We’re not building the Burj Khalifa, so I’m genuinely curious - what’s happening at the construction site? Does anyone know: - Whether construction is progressing, - When the building is expected to open, - And when activities such as Russian language classes for children, yoga, and other community programs will resume there? Any updates would be greatly appreciated.

Congratulations to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the people of the UAE. It is a rare combination when a single leader embodies both visionary thinking and the ability to turn that vision into reality — together with a nation eager to bring those ideas to life. Wishing His Highness continued good health and the UAE continued prosperity, innovation, and success.

С Днём России. 🇷🇺 Пусть наша страна остаётся сильной, мудрой и созидательной. Пусть в каждом доме будут мир, благополучие, любовь и уверенность в завтрашнем дне. Желаю всем здоровья, вдохновения, новых возможностей и поводов гордиться нашей Родиной. С праздником!

One of the World's most spectacular events returns to St. Petersburg Every June, during the season of the White Nights, St. Petersburg hosts one of the most remarkable public celebrations in the world - Scarlet Sails. Taking place on 27–29 June, the event transforms the historic center of Russia's cultural capital into a stage for an unforgettable multimedia experience. The celebration features large-scale live performances, an award-winning fireworks display lasting more than 20 minutes, and the iconic passage of a white brig sailing across the Neva River beneath its famous scarlet sails. Recognized by international event industry experts as one of the most beautiful public celebrations on Earth, Scarlet Sails has received numerous international awards in categories including Best Show, Event of the Year, and Best Musical Event. The celebration attracts attention far beyond Russia and continues to be recommended by travel and cultural experts worldwide. While originally created to honor school graduates, Scarlet Sails has grown into something much larger - a cultural phenomenon that brings together visitors, media representatives, artists, photographers, and guests from around the world. Preparations begin well before the main event, with rehearsals taking place in the days leading up to the celebration, offering a unique opportunity to witness the city preparing for one of its most anticipated nights of the year. For those who have never experienced St. Petersburg during the White Nights, Scarlet Sails offers a rare opportunity to see the city at its most vibrant - where history, culture, technology, music, and tradition come together against the backdrop of one of Europe's most beautiful skylines. As a native of St. Petersburg, I am always proud to see how this event continues to capture the imagination of people from different countries and cultures. It is a celebration not only of achievement, but of aspiration, creativity, and the belief that every new generation deserves to dream boldly. See you at Scarlet Sails. ⚓️❤️✨

Today, June 6, marks Russian Language Day and the 227th anniversary of the birth of Alexander Pushkin - the poet, writer, and playwright who laid the foundation of modern Russian literary language. Russian literature has given the world not only remarkable works of art, but also a tradition of reflection, dialogue, and the search for truth through thought rather than slogans. It has taught generations to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and look beyond simple answers. Perhaps that is why it feels particularly relevant today to talk not about headlines, but about critical thinking. In recent days, many people outside Russia have expressed concern after reading reports about drone activity and security issues related to Saint Petersburg. Concern is understandable. But concern should never replace understanding. It is important to remember that Saint Petersburg and the Leningrad Region are two separate administrative territories with different authorities, different responsibilities, and a very different geographic scale. Yet many international headlines merge everything together into one dramatic narrative. This is not a criticism of any particular media outlet. Media everywhere tends to amplify what attracts attention. Negative news generates clicks, views, engagement, and discussion. That is the nature of modern information spaces. What concerns me more is the gradual loss of critical thinking. The truth is rarely found in a single headline. It is rarely found in a single television channel, newspaper, or social media feed. Every country has its own narratives, its own perspectives, and its own biases. The responsibility of an informed person is not to accept one version unquestioningly, but to compare information, verify facts, ask questions, and speak with people who actually live in the places being discussed. Before making assumptions about a city, ask the people who live there. Before repeating alarming headlines, ask what daily life actually looks like. Before deciding what is true, listen to multiple perspectives. The reality is that life in Saint Petersburg continues. People go to work. Children go to school. Universities operate. Cultural events take place. Families continue their daily routines. The city lives. But perhaps the most important point goes beyond Saint Petersburg, beyond Russia, and beyond any particular headline. Russian Language Day reminds us that language, literature, and culture were never created to divide people. They exist to help us understand one another, even when we disagree. In a world saturated with breaking news, opinions, and competing narratives, it is easy to focus on who is right, who is wrong, who should be blamed, and whose version of events should prevail. Yet lasting solutions are rarely built on accusations alone. What matters more is the ability to listen, to ask questions, to respect different cultures, different histories, and different lived experiences. It is the willingness to engage in dialogue rather than assumptions, curiosity rather than judgment, and understanding rather than hostility. Perhaps we would all benefit from spending less time arguing about narratives and more time learning how to communicate across them. Because peace begins not when everyone thinks the same way, but when people are willing to speak with one another, understand one another, and search for common ground. And perhaps, on a day dedicated to language itself, that is the conversation most worth having.

In a world that moves quickly, Vesak Day gently reminds us to pause, reflect, and choose compassion. May this day bring peace to your heart, clarity to your mind, and kindness to your actions. Wishing all who celebrate a meaningful and peaceful Vesak Day.

Eid Mubarak. Hari Raya. Kurban Bayram. No matter how this beautiful celebration is called across different parts of the world, its spirit remains rooted in faith, compassion, family, and human connection. On this special occasion, warm wishes are sent to everyone celebrating today - to families, loved ones, communities, and all those gathering in prayer, reflection, and togetherness. This year feels especially meaningful as Saint Petersburg celebrates 323 years since its founding - a city where cultures, traditions, and faiths have long existed side by side, reminding us that mutual understanding remains one of humanity’s greatest strengths. To everyone sharing meals with family, gathering around the table, visiting loved ones, or reflecting quietly in their hearts - may this season bring peace, warmth, gratitude, and meaningful moments to every home. And even for those who may not celebrate this holiday, perhaps moments like this remind us of the importance of approaching one another with openness, curiosity, empathy, and respect. No matter where we come from, kindness and sincere human connection remain universal. May this celebration bring peace to homes, strength to communities, and warmth across cultures and generations. Let us stay united. Let us stay human. Eid Mubarak.