30.06.2022
10:00–11:30
Protecting the Rights of Compatriots: Maintaining Contact with Russia
Congress Centre, conference hall D3
Around 30 million Russians are living abroad today. Many of these people are in need of assistance, given the current unprecedented environment of persecution and discrimination on national, cultural, and other grounds. What measures should be taken to protect Russians abroad? What needs to be done to ensure that animosity and discrimination does not become an ideological norm? How can the law be used to combat chauvinistic behaviour towards Russians?
Moderator
Sergey Stepashin
Chairman, Association of Lawyers of Russia; Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Territorial Development Fund
Panellists
Valeriy Goryukhanov
Deputy Executive Director, Fund Bureau of Investigation of the All-Russian National Front
Alexey Dronov
General Consul of the Russian Federation in Bonn (online)
Alexey Klishin
Chairman of the Presidium, Interterritorial Bar Association "Klishin and Partners"; Chairman of the Commission on Legal Framework of Modern Integration Processes of the Russian Federation, Association of Lawyers of Russia
Vadim Lobov
President, Synergy Corporation
Grigory Lukiyantsev
Special Representative for Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
Anastasiya Milyutina
First Deputy Executive Director - Chief of Staff, Association of Lawyers of Russia
Tatiana Moskalkova
High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation
Kumar Prashant
President, The Bar Association of India
Aleksey Preobrazhenskiy
Deputy Head of Administration – Head of the Legal Directorate, Government of the Ulyanovsk Region
Ekaterina Torubarova
Head of the Department of Public Diplomacy, Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo)
Front row participant
Nikita Melnikov
Project Curator, "Help to Compatriots", Association of Lawyers of Russia (online)
Broadcast

Sergey Stepashin
Chairman, Association of Lawyers of Russia; Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Territorial Development Fund
Valeriy Goryukhanov
Deputy Executive Director, Fund Bureau of Investigation of the All-Russian National Front
Alexey Dronov
General Consul of the Russian Federation in Bonn

Alexey Klishin
Chairman of the Presidium, Interterritorial Bar Association "Klishin and Partners"; Chairman of the Commission on Legal Framework of Modern Integration Processes of the Russian Federation, Association of Lawyers of Russia

Vadim Lobov
President, Synergy Corporation
The founder of the educational Corporation "Synergy", which includes more than 15 educational institutions, among which are Moscow University for Industry and Finance "Synergy" (Synergy University), Synergy Business School, Moscow Open Institute, Moscow Academy of Entrepreneurship and others.
Education
Candidate of Economics Sciences, Associate Professor. An honored graduate of the Moscow State University of Economics, Statistics and Informatics. In 2004 he defended his thesis on "Entrepreneurial Activity of Higher Education Institution in the Russian Education System". After graduating from the University he had an internship in the USA.
Professional activity
He started his entrepreneurial activity in the field of education in 2001. He is the founder of the educational Corporation "Synergy", which includes more than 15 educational institutions, among which are Moscow University for Industry and Finance "Synergy" (Synergy University), Synergy Business School, Moscow Open Institute, Moscow Academy of Entrepreneurship, School of Managers "Arsenal" and others.
Synergy University implements more than 100 educational programmes at all levels of training: college, bachelor, master, postgraduate, business education (MBA, professional retraining, seminars, and courses). The University trains students in such fields as Management, Economics, Entrepreneurship, IT, Law and other popular specialties.
Under V.G. Lobov leadership, a number of divisions were opened at Synergy University, contributing to the scientific development of the University, quality education, and adaptation of young people: Center of Patriotic Education, Center for Sociological Studies, Economic Research Center, Volunteer Training Center, and British Education Center.
In 2007, the satellite TV-channel "Synergy TV" specializing in educational content was launched. Guests of the channel are leading business speakers, experts in the field of management, entrepreneurship, and other areas.
On the initiative of V.G. Lobov, the Venture Fund “Synergy Innovations” was established on the basis of Synergy University. The Fund assists in the implementation of state policy in the field of science, technology, and innovation, invests in fast-growing companies and projects developing in promising markets.
For success in the formation of a new model of the educational process on the basis of Synergy University, V.G. Lobov was awarded the prize of the Russian Biographical Institute "Man of the Year 2010" in the nomination "Higher School".
Activities abroad
In 2012, Synergy University opened the campus in Dubai (UAE), where students are currently undergoing undergraduate, graduate and MBA programmes. Synergy University became the first Russian University to enter the UAE education market.
In 2015, the representative office of Synergy University in Tehran (Iran) began its work, in 2016 — a representative office in Damascus (Syria) was opened. Among academic partners of Synergy are the best business schools in China, the UK, Spain, Germany, and the USA.
Humanitarian activities
V. G. Lobov is the author of the concept of "Russian Humanitarian Expeditions" — a series of events aimed at promoting the Russian Language and culture in foreign countries, supporting compatriots living abroad. In 2013-2016, humanitarian expeditions to Spain, Germany, Poland, Finland, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Montenegro and a number of other countries were conducted under the auspices of Synergy University.
At the initiative of Synergy University in 2015, an Interuniversity Russian Language Department was created and provided with methodological materials at the University of Damascus (Syria). The Department implements training and professional development programmes for teachers of Russian as a Foreign Language. In 2016, the University organized trips to Russian camps for Syrian children — winners of School Olympiads on Knowledge of Russia.
The Volunteer Training Center for the organization of world-class sports events works on the basis of Synergy University in Moscow. In 2014, more than 1,000 volunteers trained at the Center took part in the organization of the XXII Olympic winter games and XI Paralympic winter games in Sochi. In 2018, the University trained more than 1,500 volunteers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. The level of volunteers training in the Center is confirmed by the award "For Significant Contribution to the Implementation of the Volunteer Program "Sochi-2014" and the Development of Volunteer Movement in Russia".
Education
Candidate of Economics Sciences, Associate Professor. An honored graduate of the Moscow State University of Economics, Statistics and Informatics. In 2004 he defended his thesis on "Entrepreneurial Activity of Higher Education Institution in the Russian Education System". After graduating from the University he had an internship in the USA.
Professional activity
He started his entrepreneurial activity in the field of education in 2001. He is the founder of the educational Corporation "Synergy", which includes more than 15 educational institutions, among which are Moscow University for Industry and Finance "Synergy" (Synergy University), Synergy Business School, Moscow Open Institute, Moscow Academy of Entrepreneurship, School of Managers "Arsenal" and others.
Synergy University implements more than 100 educational programmes at all levels of training: college, bachelor, master, postgraduate, business education (MBA, professional retraining, seminars, and courses). The University trains students in such fields as Management, Economics, Entrepreneurship, IT, Law and other popular specialties.
Under V.G. Lobov leadership, a number of divisions were opened at Synergy University, contributing to the scientific development of the University, quality education, and adaptation of young people: Center of Patriotic Education, Center for Sociological Studies, Economic Research Center, Volunteer Training Center, and British Education Center.
In 2007, the satellite TV-channel "Synergy TV" specializing in educational content was launched. Guests of the channel are leading business speakers, experts in the field of management, entrepreneurship, and other areas.
On the initiative of V.G. Lobov, the Venture Fund “Synergy Innovations” was established on the basis of Synergy University. The Fund assists in the implementation of state policy in the field of science, technology, and innovation, invests in fast-growing companies and projects developing in promising markets.
For success in the formation of a new model of the educational process on the basis of Synergy University, V.G. Lobov was awarded the prize of the Russian Biographical Institute "Man of the Year 2010" in the nomination "Higher School".
Activities abroad
In 2012, Synergy University opened the campus in Dubai (UAE), where students are currently undergoing undergraduate, graduate and MBA programmes. Synergy University became the first Russian University to enter the UAE education market.
In 2015, the representative office of Synergy University in Tehran (Iran) began its work, in 2016 — a representative office in Damascus (Syria) was opened. Among academic partners of Synergy are the best business schools in China, the UK, Spain, Germany, and the USA.
Humanitarian activities
V. G. Lobov is the author of the concept of "Russian Humanitarian Expeditions" — a series of events aimed at promoting the Russian Language and culture in foreign countries, supporting compatriots living abroad. In 2013-2016, humanitarian expeditions to Spain, Germany, Poland, Finland, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Montenegro and a number of other countries were conducted under the auspices of Synergy University.
At the initiative of Synergy University in 2015, an Interuniversity Russian Language Department was created and provided with methodological materials at the University of Damascus (Syria). The Department implements training and professional development programmes for teachers of Russian as a Foreign Language. In 2016, the University organized trips to Russian camps for Syrian children — winners of School Olympiads on Knowledge of Russia.
The Volunteer Training Center for the organization of world-class sports events works on the basis of Synergy University in Moscow. In 2014, more than 1,000 volunteers trained at the Center took part in the organization of the XXII Olympic winter games and XI Paralympic winter games in Sochi. In 2018, the University trained more than 1,500 volunteers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. The level of volunteers training in the Center is confirmed by the award "For Significant Contribution to the Implementation of the Volunteer Program "Sochi-2014" and the Development of Volunteer Movement in Russia".

Grigory Lukiyantsev
Special Representative for Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
Anastasiya Milyutina
First Deputy Executive Director - Chief of Staff, Association of Lawyers of Russia

Tatiana Moskalkova
High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation

Kumar Prashant
President, The Bar Association of India
Prashant Kumar was President of LAWASIA from 2015-2017. A policy economist turned lawyer, Mr Prashant Kumar specialises in constitutional law, commercial and civil matters, arbitration and intellectual property, as well as matters relating to information technology law, infrastructure agreements, public-private partnerships and anti-dumping laws.
Mr Kumar's law firm seconded three domain consultants to the Asian Development Bank led project team to carry out IT reform in the Delhi judiciary as a pilot project in 2003-2005 and he actively engages in assisting infusion of technology in judicial systems on informal basis.
P Kumar, Profile
He has taken keen interest in using technology to carry out legal processes and his firm has developed and worked successfully IT based dispute resolution model for resolving mass auto loan disputes in which statements of claim and documentation is generated in a fully automated manner involving a range of legal and fact variations. Arbitrators are also made available award assist programme, which produces a template award which arbitrators can validate, improve and utilise as a base to pass an appropriate award.
Mr Kumar heads KPA Legal, a boutique law firm with a clientele that includes MNCs and major corporate houses in India.
Mr Kumar is a Life Member of both the Bar Association of India and the Supreme Court Bar Association. He has held various positions in the Bar Association of India and currently serves as its President Elect.
Mr Kumar's law firm seconded three domain consultants to the Asian Development Bank led project team to carry out IT reform in the Delhi judiciary as a pilot project in 2003-2005 and he actively engages in assisting infusion of technology in judicial systems on informal basis.
P Kumar, Profile
He has taken keen interest in using technology to carry out legal processes and his firm has developed and worked successfully IT based dispute resolution model for resolving mass auto loan disputes in which statements of claim and documentation is generated in a fully automated manner involving a range of legal and fact variations. Arbitrators are also made available award assist programme, which produces a template award which arbitrators can validate, improve and utilise as a base to pass an appropriate award.
Mr Kumar heads KPA Legal, a boutique law firm with a clientele that includes MNCs and major corporate houses in India.
Mr Kumar is a Life Member of both the Bar Association of India and the Supreme Court Bar Association. He has held various positions in the Bar Association of India and currently serves as its President Elect.

Aleksey Preobrazhenskiy
Deputy Head of Administration – Head of the Legal Directorate, Government of the Ulyanovsk Region
Ekaterina Torubarova
Head of the Department of Public Diplomacy, Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo)
Nikita Melnikov
Project Curator, "Help to Compatriots", Association of Lawyers of Russia