From Vyatka to Ararat: Kirov residents build bridges of people-to-people diplomacy

      What is people's diplomacy

      People's diplomacy is "bottom-up" foreign policy. It has no official mandates or protocols, but it has what matters most — personal contact and trust. Scientists, doctors, entrepreneurs, artists and simply active citizens take part in this kind of diplomacy. They build dialogue directly, bypassing bureaucracy.

      For Kirov this is especially important: regional initiatives become part of the larger picture of international relations, but with a human face.

      Meetings in Yerevan

      The central figure of the visit was Member of the National Assembly of Armenia Alexey Sandykov. He represents the Molokan community, serves on the commission for Eurasian integration, and is a member of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly. Sandykov is well acquainted with Russia and has already participated in joint sessions of the State Duma, the Federation Council and the Armenian parliament.

      In 2023 he was the curator of the "Memory Train" project, thanks to which veterans from Armenia were able to come to the Victory Parade in Moscow. That experience made the meetings especially warm: people from Kirov saw that dialogue between cultures and generations works in practice.

      Electoral experience

      Particular interest was aroused by the work of the Central Electoral Commission of Armenia. Alexander Yefremov, a member of the Kirov Region Electoral Commission, studied the organization of elections in the republic in detail.

      According to him, many technologies and procedures can be compared with the Russian ones, and some can be taken into consideration. Moreover, he expressed his readiness to return to Yerevan as an observer at the 2026 elections.

      The Armenian community in Kirov

      Kirov and Armenia are connected not only by politics. A strong Armenian diaspora lives in the region and actively participates in local life.

      Sagomon Arakelyan — chairman of the Committee on Social Affairs of the Kirov Regional Legislative Assembly, chief physician of the City Emergency Hospital and Candidate of Medical Sciences. Under his leadership the hospital remains one of Kirov's key medical institutions.

      The Vardanyan brothers — founders of the construction company "Tigran the Great", working in the road industry. They not only run a business but also support charitable projects and help those who have been mobilized.

      Sussanna Yungblud — a well-known public figure and coordinator of the "Strong Family" project. Thanks to her efforts, the region hosts family creativity festivals and charity campaigns such as "There Are No Other People's Children", which gather hundreds of participants.

      These examples show that ties between Kirov and Armenia have long been solid and personal.

      Looking to the future

      The Kirov delegation proposed that Alexey Sandykov consider the possibility of a sister city program. This format has long proven itself around the world: cities exchange delegations, exhibitions, school and sports groups, and jointly hold festivals and projects.

      Another topic is tourism. Armenia attracts people from Kirov with its history, cuisine and hospitality, while Vyatka can interest the Armenian side with its nature, crafts and culture. These are precisely the areas that can produce quick and vibrant results in people's diplomacy.

      From Vyatka to Ararat

      From Vyatka to Ararat — thousands of kilometers and different climates. But when it comes to people, distances stop mattering. People's diplomacy is built not on protocols but on handshakes, smiles and the willingness to listen to one another.

      Kirov and Armenia have found points of contact in history, culture, medicine and business. These threads are gradually being woven into a strong bridge along which new projects, joint ideas and friendly meetings can travel.

      And perhaps, someday, that bridge will become as recognizable a symbol as the domes of Vyatka or the mountains of Ararat — a symbol that peoples can grow closer to one another.