The US-Russia exchange program for young political leaders organized and managed by ACYPL and Muskie Club started on September, 12 and ran for two weeks giving Russian young politicians an opportunity to visit three regions in the USA - Washington, DC, Raleigh, NC and Colorado Springs, CO. 

A group of six Russian young politicians escorted by Dimitrie Ross, Muskie Club board member, was carefully selected from over 200 applicants from all across Russia. The winners of the contest had to be under 40 y. o., representatives of the legislative or executive branch, members of divers political parties, coming from different regions of Russia. This year the participants of the program were:

Dmitry Niskovskikh, 27, Yekaterinburg, elected member of regional parliament of Sverdlosk region, member of "United Russia" political party and a President of a charitable foundation devoted to youth development in Sverdlovsk region.

Tatiana Katankina, 33, Kirov, aide and chief of staff to the Governor of Kirov region, member of "Pravoye Delo" political party, extensively experienced in legislative and executive branches of power at the regional level.

Andrey Gromov, 33, Zhukovsky, press-secretary of city Zhukovsky, Moscow region, member of "United Russia" political party.

Konstantin Lazarev, 34, Moscow, spokesman and aide to Irina Khakamada, politician, writer and former Presidential candidate (2004). Konstantin is one of the founder of the political movement "Russian People Democratic Union", former member of the SPS and the "Our Choice" political party.

Galina Nemtseva, 34, Tomsk, elected member of the regional parliament of Tomsk region, member of "Just Russia" political party and a chairwoman of the commission for childhood and maternity. Galina is also heading the Regional branch of the "Just Russia" political party and actively  participating in the "Just Russia" Central Council.     

Oleg Nikolaev, 39, Tcheboksary, Chuvashia, spokesperson and aide to the State Duma deputy Anatoly Aksakov, member of the "Just Russia" political party.

The agenda of the visit was made in accordance with the guidelines of the US State department. The program included several visits with the US government officials and major businesses in the US capitol, such as Department of State, Democratic National Committee, Federal Election Committee, Department of Coomerce, US Chamber of Commerce, Republican National Committee, Congress, International Relations Committee, VISA and Toyota. On the state levels in North Carolina and Colorado the Russian delegation was hosted by the ACYPL alumni of those states and had unique opportunities to meet representatives of Governors' offices and city councils, State Attorney Generals and members of State legislature.

The program of the visit was uniquely designed to introduce young Russian political leaders to policy and decision making processes and political and electoral dynamics in the USA. The exchange experience is to strengthen each participant's leadership and public diplomacy skills in a climate of mutual understanding and trust to future relationships.

Since 1966 the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL), a bi-partisan, not-for-profit organization based in Washington, DC, has become recognized worldwide as the pre-eminent catalyst for introducing rising political leaders and policy makers to international affairs and to each other.  The ACYPL has conducted programs and exchanges with more than 90 nations, producing a global network of several thousand alumni, a large number of whom have risen to positions of great influence in the United States and in nations around the globe.

Dimitrie Ross
Moscow - Washington, DC - Raleigh, NC - Colorado Springs, CO - Moscow