Ambassador Albert P. Khorev attends certificate distribution ceremony at AIOU; more than 200 applications received for next Russian language course

ISLAMABAD, Wednesday, September 16, 2026 (WNP): Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Pakistan Albert P. Khorev attended a certificate distribution ceremony for graduates of the ninth and 10th Russian language courses at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) in Islamabad, highlighting education and academic exchanges as an important area of Russia-Pakistan cooperation.

Addressing the graduates, Ambassador Khorev congratulated them on successfully completing their studies and highlighted efforts by the Russian side to expand opportunities for learning the Russian language across Pakistan and increase the number of Pakistani students pursuing higher education at Russian universities.

Khorev also expressed appreciation to the AIOU leadership for its longstanding constructive cooperation and acknowledged the contribution of Ekaterina Andriets, Representative of the Russian Ministry of Education, to the promotion of the Russian language in Pakistan.

The ceremony was hosted by AIOU Vice Chancellor Dr. Nasir Mahmood, who stressed the importance of strengthening educational ties with friendly countries amid the current geopolitical environment.

Dr. Mahmood noted that several graduates of the Russian language courses had subsequently received Russian Government scholarships to pursue higher education at Russian universities. He also announced that more than 200 applications had already been submitted for the next Russian language course.

The Russian language courses at AIOU are being conducted under the international humanitarian project “Russian Teacher Abroad,” implemented by the Center for International Cooperation of the Russian Ministry of Education. The project, launched in 2017, promotes Russian-language education through the placement of Russian teachers in educational institutions abroad.

The latest ceremony underscored the role of language education, academic mobility and institutional cooperation in expanding people-to-people contacts and strengthening the broader educational dimension of Russia-Pakistan relations.