Russian International Affairs Council

What Russian International Affairs Council does

The Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) is a Moscow-based non-commercial partnership (NP РСМД) founded in 2011 that operates as a think tank specializing in international relations research, foreign-policy analysis, and public diplomacy. The institution is chaired by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and brings together Russian and international government, academic, and civil-society stakeholders for expert dialogue, research production, and convening on foreign-policy issues.

The Council's core products are analytical publications, working papers (notably the recurring "Russia and China: Cooperation in a New Era" series), an expertise and monitoring database aggregating over 7,207 analytical articles, an annual flagship bilateral conference now in its eleventh edition, broadcast programs (the "International Review" show on TV channel "Big Asia" and Radio Sputnik appearances), and joint research outputs with partners including Fudan University and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). Distribution is anchored through partnerships with TASS, Kommersant, and Chinese state media (CGTN, People's Daily, China Daily, China News Service), and academic partnerships span MGIMO, Moscow State University, Higher School of Economics, and Ural Federal University.

Its business model is that of a registered Russian non-commercial partnership rather than a commercial entity: RIAC does not sell products or services in a traditional sense and is funded through institutional membership and partner support, primarily from Russian state-aligned sources given the MFA-level chairmanship. The geographic remit explicitly extends beyond the Russia-China bilateral core into the post-Soviet space, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Central Asia, and the Council operates a small permanent staff of 11-50 supplemented by a broader expert network.

Name

Russian International Affairs Council

Legal name

Non-profit Partnership Russian International Affairs Council (НП РСМД)

Website

https://russiancouncil.ru

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) is a Moscow-based non-profit think tank founded in 2011 that conducts international relations research, produces foreign-policy analysis, and hosts the annual "Russia and China: Cooperation in a New Era" bilateral conference for government, academic, and media stakeholders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Think Tank / International Affairs Research

NAICS

Political Organizations (813940)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Multilateral Diplomacy & International Representation (UN, Regional Bodies) (BPAIAIAC), International & Comparative Education Policy Organizations (EDADADAL)

Keywords

• International affairs research
• Foreign policy analysis
• Think tank publications
• Policy commentary
• Expert networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Moscow

HQ country

Russia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Institutional Support and Partnerships: RIAC operates as a non-commercial partnership supported by its founders (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia and partner institutions), corporate members, and event partners. Revenue is generated through organizational partnerships, corporate memberships, and project-based collaboration rather than commercial product sales.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Russian International Affairs Council is a non-profit partnership that conducts research, expert analysis, and public education on international relations and foreign policy. It produces reports, analytical papers, policy briefs, and commentary on global affairs, security, nonproliferation, and Russia's foreign economic interests, while also running educational and networking programs for Russian and international specialists.

Product overview

Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC/РСМД) is a think tank focused on international relations research and analysis. The organization operates as a platform for expert dialogue rather than a software product company. Its portfolio consists of analytical publications (reports, working papers, policy briefs), annual international conferences (notably the Russia-China conference series), research projects on educational internationalization, podcasts on geopolitical topics, and expert commentary services. The organization does not offer a unified software product but rather produces knowledge products and convenes expert communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research Reports and Policy Papers Analytical reports and working papers authored by RIAC experts on international affairs, foreign policy, security, and global governance, available through the Council's website and publications.
• Master's Program in International Relations and Foreign Policy (joint with MGIMO) Graduate-level dual-degree educational program in international relations and foreign policy, jointly delivered with MGIMO, designed to train policy and international affairs specialists.
• Educational and Networking Programs Programs that bring together Russian and international experts, diplomats, and academics for knowledge exchange, capacity building, and networking on international affairs.
• Expert Commentary and Public Opinion Research Provision of expert commentary and analysis by RIAC staff and associates on current international affairs issues, including surveys and assessments of public attitudes to foreign policy.

Quantifiable outcome

• XI International Conference gathered 60+ officials and experts from Russia and China, with 250+ attendees on the first day alone
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, supporting, flagship and core.

• ООО «А7»majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2026General partner of the XI International Conference 'Russia and China: Cooperation in a New Era' (2026). ООО «А7» is a Russian business entity participating in trade and economic sessions of the conference.
• Russian Peace Foundation (Российский фонд мира)supportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2026Official partner of the XI International Conference 'Russia and China: Cooperation in a New Era' (2026). The Russian Peace Foundation supports humanitarian aspects of the conference program.
• Corporation 'Synergy' (Корпорация «Синергия»)supportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2026Official partner of the XI International Conference 'Russia and China: Cooperation in a New Era' (2026). Корпорация «Синергия» contributes to business program sessions and youth engagement activities.
• TASSmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2026General information partner of the XI International Conference 'Russia and China: Cooperation in a New Era' (2026). TASS hosted the press conference following the conference and provides media coverage.
• KommersantsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2026Information partner of the XI International Conference 'Russia and China: Cooperation in a New Era' (2026).
• Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (КАОН / CASS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2016Primary co-organizer of the annual 'Russia and China: Cooperation in a New Era' international conference. The cooperation is formalized under a Memorandum of Cooperation signed on June 25, 2016 during President Putin's official visit to China. The conference is conducted on a rotating basis between Moscow and Beijing annually.
• People's Daily (Жэньминь Жибао)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerForeign media partner of the XI International Conference providing coverage in Chinese-language media.
• Xinhua News Agency (СИНЬХУА)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerForeign media partner of the XI International Conference providing international news coverage.
• China Media GroupsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerForeign media partner of the XI International Conference providing multimedia coverage.
• China DailysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerForeign media partner of the XI International Conference providing English-language coverage.
• Fudan University (Фуданьский университет)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint publication of annual reports on Russia-China dialogue. RIAC and Fudan University have co-produced multiple joint reports including 'Russia-China Dialogue: Functional and Regional Dimensions' (Report No. 117/2026) and 'Russia-China Dialogue: Model 2024'.
• Ural Federal University (УрФУ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 'Electronic Internationalization of Russian Universities' educational project. Joint seminars on international marketing of Russian higher education, particularly focused on cooperation with China.
• Society of Russian-Chinese Friendship (Общество российско-китайской дружбы)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Russia-China cooperation activities. Sergey Sanakoev serves as Deputy Chairman and represents the society at RIAC events.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS): China's premier state-affiliated academic institution in social sciences and a primary co-organizer of RIAC's flagship Russia–China conference. Functionally a counterparty and peer platform producing parallel international-relations research from the Chinese side.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: A major US-based international affairs think tank producing policy research and convening expert dialogue on global affairs. Directly comparable to RIAC as a non-profit analytical platform focused on international relations and foreign policy.
• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): UK-based international affairs think tank producing research and hosting high-level conferences on global governance, security, and foreign policy. Shares RIAC's convening model, policy-publication focus, and reliance on expert events.
• IMEMO (Institute of World Economy and International Relations, Russian Academy of Sciences): Russia's leading academic institute for international-relations research, producing monographs, journals, and policy analysis. Closely comparable to RIAC in topic focus and Russian institutional context, with academic rather than convening emphasis.
• Council on Foreign Relations: US-based think tank specializing in US foreign policy and international affairs research, with influential publications and high-level convening. Comparable to RIAC in mission, output format, and expert-network model.
• Valdai Discussion Club: Russia-based think tank and annual conference platform focused on international affairs and Russian foreign-policy dialogue with global experts. Most direct domestic peer to RIAC, sharing the same geography, topic focus, and government-linked institutional positioning.
• China Institute of International Studies (CIIS): China's leading foreign-policy think tank affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Closely parallel to RIAC in institutional structure, government affiliation, and role as a foreign-ministry-linked analytical platform.

Broad incumbents

• Brookings Institution: One of the largest US-based policy research organizations covering foreign policy among many other domains. Comparable to RIAC's foreign-policy research and convening role, though operating at significantly larger scale across multiple policy verticals.
• Atlantic Council: US-based think tank focused on international affairs with strong convening and publication programs covering Eurasia, China, and global governance. Comparable in topic breadth and event-driven engagement model.

Regional players

• ISPI (Italian Institute for International Political Studies): Italy-based international affairs think tank producing research, reports, and conferences on global politics and security. Comparable to RIAC in the European think-tank model and publication-driven convening, though serving a different regional audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Russian_Council
• YouTuberutube.ru/u/russiancouncil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/russian-international-affairs-council

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Russian International Affairs Council