Togo plans Russian House to strengthen cultural and educational ties

Culture

Monday, 01 June 2026 14:01

Togo plans Russian House to strengthen cultural and educational ties

(Togo First) - Togo may soon host a Russian House. The opening of the cultural centre, which would mark a new step in the strengthening of ties between Lomé and Moscow, was discussed last week at the "Eurasia, a Territory of Traditional Values" forum held in Russia, where Togolese Minister of Culture and Tourism Isaac Tchiakpé was in attendance.

According to information shared at the forum, the future Russian House in Togo is intended to meet growing demand for Russian-language instruction, access to educational opportunities in Russia, and broader cultural exchanges between the two peoples.

"Good neighbourliness means, for example, supporting the establishment of a Russian House in my country, which could serve as a lever for strengthening cooperation with Russia in the fields of arts education, the exchange of experience and expertise in music, literature and cinema, as well as the preservation of historical memory, particularly through museum cooperation," the Togolese minister of culture said.

On the Russian side, the initiative is presented as a project with significant expansion potential. "This project deserves special attention, as we hope it will become a pilot project for a network of Russian Houses around the world," said Pyotr Fradkov, a member of the board of directors of ANO Eurasia.

The future Russian House is envisioned as a space for cultural and educational interaction. It is expected to give Togolese citizens, as well as people from other African countries, access to Russian literature and culture, while facilitating participation in training programmes, educational internships and youth exchanges.

The announcement comes as Togo and Russia deepen diplomatic and economic ties. It also fits within Moscow's broader strategy of strengthening its presence and influence across the African continent.

Esaïe Edoh

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