On May 14, 2025, a round table "Developing the potential of cooperation between religious organizations of the BRICS countries in preserving and strengthening traditional values" was held in Kazan. The organizers of the event, which took place within the framework of the international forum "Russia — the Islamic World: KazanForum 2025", were the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation and the Civic Chamber of the Republic of Tatarstan.
Religious, public and academic figures from Russia, Malaysia, Egypt, Kazakhstan and other countries participated in the round table.
Welcoming remarks by the Chairman of the Department for Church-Society Relations and the Media, V.R. Legoyda, the Chairman of the Russian Association for Religious Freedom, S.A. Melnikov, and the Adviser to the Chairman of the Board of the N. Nazarbayev International Center for Interfaith and Interreligious Dialogue, B.S. Sarsenbayev, were presented in an online format.
Archpriest Vladimir Samoylenko, member of the Public Chamber of the Republic of Tatarstan, Head of the Kazan Diocese's Department for Cooperation with the Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies, made a presentation on the state of Orthodox-Muslim relations in Tatarstan.
With the blessing of Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Church Relations, DECR Secretary for Interreligious Relations and Executive Secretary of the Interreligious Council of Russia, Priest Ilia Kashitsyn, spoke at the round table. In his report, he pointed to the common value basis of traditional religions, which allows them to work together for the benefit of peace and harmony in society, to resist challenges and threats, including the propaganda of distorted secular ideas about God and man. The speaker spoke about the experience of interreligious dialogue in Russia, the activities of the Interreligious Council, dialogue platforms and commissions in the BRICS member and partner countries, pointing to the potential for further development.