Since 2022, the Russian Red Cross (RRC) Linguistic Center has translated over 700 key documents of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. This has enabled staff, volunteers, and members of Russian-speaking National Societies to access the latest knowledge, harmonized operational standards, and best humanitarian practices.
The translated materials cover a wide range of topics, including emergency response, international humanitarian law, first aid, psychosocial support, volunteering, migration, and climate and environmental issues. The Linguistic Center’s specialists also translate guidelines, training resources, methodological materials, statutory documents, resolutions of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, collections of National Society best practices, and online learning courses. In 2026, the Center also developed and recorded a basic Russian language course for refugees and migrants fr om Arab countries and Afghanistan. Available in Arabic and Dari, the course is designed to help learners acquire essential language skills and facilitate their integration into local communities.
“Russian is used by at least nine Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, making these translations relevant well beyond Russia. We not only make international resources available to Russian-speaking audiences, but also contribute our own expertise to the wider Movement. Our programme for people living with HIV, for instance, is now available in English and can be adapted and used by other National Societies. We will continue to share proven approaches and practical experience from areas wh ere we have developed strong expertise,” said Pavel Savchuk, President of the RRC.
In addition to written translation, the Center’s specialists provide consecutive and simultaneous interpretation during international meetings, including sessions of the IFRC Governing Board and statutory meetings of the Movement. The Center’s main working languages are Russian and English. Moreover, its team members have expertise in French, Spanish, Arabic and Chinese. This year, the Linguistic Center translated a collection of best practices of the Russian Red Cross and the Red Cross Society of China into Chinese.
All translated materials are shared through the IFRC’s platforms and the RRC website. The RRC also offers translation support to Russian-speaking colleagues across the Movement whenever needed.
Last year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the IFRC signed a Memorandum of Understanding that established Russian as one of the IFRC’s working languages. Since then, the RRC Linguistic Center has expanded its activities, making IFRC resources and documents more accessible to Russian-speaking National Societies.
