Marat Gatin, the Deputy Chairman of the Group of Strategic Vision (GSV) "Russia – Islamic World" and Assistant to the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan, and Ildar Mirgalimov, the First Deputy Head of the "Tatmedia" Republican Agency for Press and Mass Communications, attended a ceremony in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The event honored the winners of the Union of OIC News Agencies (UNA) Award for media professionalism.
The ceremony took place as part of the Ramadan Forum, organized by the UNA in collaboration with the Muslim World League. The forum also marked the second anniversary of the "Building Bridges Between Islamic Schools of Thought" document.
This visit marks the continuation of a dialogue initiated last December, when a Russian delegation visited the OIC headquarters as part of the GSV’s 2025 action plan. Led by Evgeny Eremin, the Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Support of Islamic Culture, Science, and Education, that initial trip laid the groundwork for long-term cooperation. The participation of GSV representatives in this major media event is a direct result of those earlier agreements.
Commenting on the ceremony, Marat Gatin said:
"Today’s event is a clear example of how the agreements reached in December are moving into a practical phase. The Group of Strategic Vision consistently advocates for building bridges, and participating in the first UNA Award for professionalism is a great honor for us. We see media becoming a space for dialogue rather than confrontation, and Russia is ready to share its experience in promoting the values of tolerance and respect for the culture and traditions of all peoples."
The forum gathered high-level guests, including Sheikh Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League; Ambassador Samir Bakr Diab, the OIC Assistant Secretary-General for Palestine and Al-Quds Affairs; and Akhmed Dudayev, the Minister of National Policy, Foreign Affairs, Press, and Information of the Chechen Republic. They were joined by media heads from 19 countries across Europe, Canada, Africa, South America, and Australia.
The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the first UNA Award for Professionalism to the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA). In his address, UNA Director General Professor Muhammad bin Abd Rabbo Al-Yami praised the role of the Muslim World League and emphasized that the new award serves as a tool for promoting responsibility, credibility, and the true values of Islam in the global media landscape.
While in Jeddah, the GSV delegation also held a working meeting with Tarek Ladjal, the new Director of the OIC General Secretariat's Information Department. The meeting included former department director Abdelhamid Salehi, as well as Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the OIC Asker Tapov
Gatin detailed the Group's ongoing efforts, particularly in the media sector, and extended an official invitation to the OIC Information Department leadership to attend the International Media Forum scheduled for May 2026. The parties discussed potential joint projects focused on information exchange and professional collaboration between Russian and Islamic media organizations.
The visit concluded with a meeting at the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Jeddah. Gatin and Consul General Yusup Abakarov reviewed the trip’s outcomes and explored prospects for cooperation with Saudi Arabia in humanitarian and informational spheres.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"