About Forum

The First Russian Internet Governance Forum will be held in Moscow at the EXPOCENTRE Fairgrounds on May 13-14, 2010.

Co-sponsored by the Coordination Center for TLD RU and the Russian Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications, the Forum should form a central event of the annual Sviaz-Expocomm'2010, the largest and most prestigious international exhibition for the telecommunications industry in Russia,the CIS and Eastern Europe.

At the Forum, the leading Russian and international experts are envisaged to discuss strategic issues and policy implications for the global community and Russia of the recent policy shifts in the Internet governance area. It is equally important to introduce to national community at large the concept of Internet governance and major outcomes of the multi-stakeholder policy dialogue based on WSIS principles.

The Forum will be attended by representatives of the Russian
Government and the Russian Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications in particular, as well as those of the ICANN, IGF, ITU, and other international organizations engaged in the process of Internet governance.

Following the footsteps of the international Governance Forum (дать как ссылку), the Forum agenda will include discussions on: Security, Openness and Privacy, Diversity and Cultural Heritage, IDNs, International Organizations engaged in the Internet Governance System (an Update for the Russian Audience), Legislation and Government Regulation, Managing Critical Internet Resources, Digital Divide (an Agenda for the Government), The Future of IGF (in Light of the WSIS Process), and the future trends of advancement of the Internet.

Russia To Debate Internet Governance Issues

First Russian Internet Governance Forum co-sponsored by the Coordination Center for ccTLD .RU and the RF Ministry of Telecom and Mass Media will be held on 13-14 May 2010 at Expocenter at Krasnaya Presnia.

The concept of “Internet governance” is an uncharted territory for most Russian Internet users. Nevertheless, the issue of Internet regulation emerged in the late 20th century and was a hot potato even at the very onset. Today, it is understood as the development and application by Governments, the private sector and civil society, in their respective roles, of shared principles, norms, rules, decision-making procedures, and programs that shape the evolution and use of the Internet. Internet governance both in global and national and regional terms suggests contribution of all the noted parties, since each of them has its own professional views and approaches to this sphere. Specialists in the field of telecommunications center on development of the technological infrastructure, software engineers focus on development of various types of standards, scripts and applications, while communication specialists’ schwerpunkt is simplification of information exchange. Policy makers accentuate the gravity of issues of societal progress boosted by the Internet development and such challenges as the combat for a safer Internet or protection of children therein.

The purpose of the Russian IGF is to unite all the stakeholders’ points of view and hold a debate in a search of consensus between government agencies, professional telecommunication and business community, and civil society on the future of the Internet in Russia. This IGF should serve as a starting point for fueling Russian representatives’ propensity for a vigorous engagement in the international organizations dealing with the Internet governance.

It is envisaged that representatives of the RF government, executives of major Russian corporations, telecom experts, renowned public figures and representatives of foreign Internet organizations will take part in the RIGF, including representatives of the Council of Europe, the European Commission, the ICANN, and the ITU, among others.

The organizers are hopeful the Russian IGF will lay the foundation for a broad public discussion on means and tools of Internet governance. The event will grow into a platform for a dialogue between Russian and foreign organizations on Internet governance. The RIGF agenda will provide for discussion on the following issues:

• Internet governance;
• security issues in the Internet;
• managing the critical infrastructure of the Internet;
• internationalized domain names (IDNs);
• legislation and government regulation in the Internet;
• liquidation of the digital divide; transparency and protection of private life in the Internet;
• diversity (cultural heritage) in the Internet;
• what’s up next: the future of the Internet взгляд в завтрашний день.

Plenary sessions, roundtables and panel discussions will be open for all the participants during two active days of the meeting. All meeting’s acts will be open for representatives of Russian and foreign mass media.
For detailed information on Russian IGF and accreditation for mass media please visit http://russia2010.intgov.net/