Celebrating the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations
October 23, 2025
On October 23, a gala evening dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations took place at the State Academic Bolshoi Theater of Russia.
The event was organized by the UN Association of Russia, the UN Information Center in Moscow, and the Russian Public Committee UN-80, with the support of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Peace and Harmony Charitable Foundation.
The gala evening was attended by members of the Russian Public Committee UN-80, representatives of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federation Council and the State Duma, the diplomatic corps, government agencies, the scientific and educational communities, universities, as well as civil society, businesses, and international organizations.
The ceremony was opened by A.N. Borisov, First Deputy Chairman of the UN Association of Russia and Vice President of the World Federation of United Nations Associations. Welcoming remarks were delivered by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Chairman of the United Nations Association of Russia and MGIMO Rector Aleksey Torkunov, and Director of the UN Information Centre in Moscow Vladimir Kuznetsov.
In their addresses, participants emphasized the exceptional role of the United Nations in maintaining international peace and security, promoting sustainable development, and protecting human rights. Particular attention was paid to the importance of multilateral diplomacy and the need to act together in the face of today’s global challenges.
A key part of the evening was a message from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in which he noted the inextricable link between the celebratory event and the Organization’s global activities and emphasized the unity of its goals and values.
The culmination of the gala evening was the ballet „Anyuta“ performed by the Bolshoi Theatre company. This lyrical production, based on a classic work of Russian literature, became a symbol of beauty, humanism, and the universal values that underlie the UN mission.