🛫 Next stop — Ekaterinburg! Russian Houses and Russian Embassies around the world are bringing together future IFY–2026 participants. This time, meetings took place in Cyprus, Abkhazia, Serbia and Cuba. Here are the highlights! Cyprus 🇨🇾 At the Russian Center for Science and Culture, participants met with Evgeny Demin, Head of the Center, and Vladimiros Gorin, a representative of the Festival movement in Cyprus. They also discussed what the delegation will bring to Ekaterinburg — national symbols and souvenirs from the sunny island. Abkhazia 🇬🇪 At the “We Are Together” Center, Russian Ambassador Vyacheslav Gladkov presented Said Kulanba, Chairman of “Young Abkhazia”, with a medal and certificate from Russian President Vladimir Putin for his contribution to the preparation of WYF–2024. The delegation also discussed joint educational projects and the role of young people in the development of the republic. Yulia Krastsova, Director of the WYFD Representative Office in Abkhazia, presented the Festival program. Cuba 🇨🇺 At the reception house of the Young Communist League, Embassy diplomats met with future IFY–2026 participants. Madeleine Brossard, Head of the International Department of the YCL National Bureau, thanked the Russian side for its work with candidates, while Embassy Counsellor Vitaly Sprinchan spoke about the role of young people in building a fairer world order. Serbia 🇷🇸 One of the Festival’s largest delegations — 86 people — gathered at the Russian House in Belgrade! Alexander Konanykhin, Minister-Counsellor of the Russian Embassy in Serbia, and Olga Golubeva, Head of the Science and Culture Department at the Russian House, welcomed the participants. Alumni of previous festivals also shared stories about the places they visited during their trips to Russia. 📍 Right now, participants are getting to know each other in their home countries — and very soon, they’ll all meet in the Urals!