On 7 September 2026, the Tamil Nadu State Branch of the Youth Club of the International Russophile Movement (IRM) was officially launched on the sidelines of the inauguration of the new academic year at Noorul Islam University in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu.

Kavitha Nair, Head of the Cultural Wing of the Honorary Consulate of Russia in Thiruvananthapuram, presented membership certificates to the executive committee members of the newly formed State Chapter.

The Chancellor of Noorul Islam University, Faizal Khan; Vice-Chancellor Dr Tessy Thomas; Kavitha Nair; and members of the executive committee of the newly formed Tamil Nadu Youth Wing Chapter addressed the gathering.

Addressing the gathering, Chancellor of the University Faizal Khan expressed his keen interest in expanding the activities of the International Russophile Movement among young people and students in Tamil Nadu. He emphasised that the University would be happy to support initiatives aimed at strengthening people-to-people contacts, cultural understanding and academic cooperation between India and Russia.

Speaking on the occasion, Kavitha Nair outlined the activities and objectives of the International Russophile Movement and its growing youth network in India. She noted that the Movement seeks to create greater awareness among young Indians about Russia, its culture, history, literature and traditions, while also promoting the longstanding friendship between India and Russia. She added that the Youth Club would provide students with opportunities to participate in cultural, educational and youth-exchange programmes and to build direct contacts with their counterparts in Russia.

Two students from the Noorul Islam University have been selected to participate in the Congress of the International Russophile Movement to be held in Moscow in the third week of September.

The establishment of the Tamil Nadu State Branch marks another important step in expanding the network of the International Russophile Movement in India .