26.01.2026

Dedication to Chekhov's "The Seagull": IKBFU Held a Dictation for 4,000 Foreign Participants

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On January 25, 2026, on the Day of Russian Students, the Russian Dictation Online competition was held at the Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University for the 20th time. This year, the Russian Dictation once again broke it’s own records with approximately 4,000 registered participants from 105 countries worldwide.

The 2026 Russian Dictation is dedicated to the 130th anniversary of Anton Chekhov's play "The Seagull." Today, "The Seagull" is one of the most sought-after plays in the global repertoire. According to theater scholars, since 1896, "The Seagull" has been performed at least 73,000 times on various stages worldwide. It has been staged from Spain to China, from Iceland to the United Kingdom. The play continues to inspire filmmakers around the world, as evidenced by over 15 film adaptations, most of which were produced outside of Russia.

Maxim Demin, Rector of the IKBFU:
This year is special and festive for us, as we are gathering here for the twentieth anniversary of this wonderful tradition. Two decades ago, this initiative was launched by the university. And today, looking at the geography and number of participants, we can proudly say that the Russian Dictation has grown into a true global celebration of the Russian language, culture, and mutual understanding.

Maxim Demin, Rector of the IKBFU:

This year is special and festive for us, as we are gathering here for the twentieth anniversary of this wonderful tradition. Two decades ago, this initiative was launched by the university. And today, looking at the geography and number of participants, we can proudly say that the Russian Dictation has grown into a true global celebration of the Russian language, culture, and mutual understanding.

Tatiana Tsvigun, Advisor to the Rectorate on the Russian Language and the Development of Humanitarian Education:
The Russian Dictation is not only a test of literacy, but also a deep immersion in Russian culture. In this anniversary year dedicated to Chekhov's "The Seagull," we feel especially strongly about how language and art unite people across time and borders. Every word and phrase in the dictation is a step towards mutual understanding and cultural dialogue, which is so important in today's world. Chekhov's plays provide us with a remarkable lesson on how to listen, hear, and understand others, and through others, ourselves. Over the past twenty years, tens of thousands of people around the world have participated in the Russian Dictation. Today, the Dictation is a unique universe that speaks in Russian.

Tatiana Tsvigun, Advisor to the Rectorate on the Russian Language and the Development of Humanitarian Education:

The Russian Dictation is not only a test of literacy, but also a deep immersion in Russian culture. In this anniversary year dedicated to Chekhov's "The Seagull," we feel especially strongly about how language and art unite people across time and borders. Every word and phrase in the dictation is a step towards mutual understanding and cultural dialogue, which is so important in today's world. Chekhov's plays provide us with a remarkable lesson on how to listen, hear, and understand others, and through others, ourselves. Over the past twenty years, tens of thousands of people around the world have participated in the Russian Dictation. Today, the Dictation is a unique universe that speaks in Russian.

Ivan Colin Martinez, Mexico:
Thank you for the organization, the dictation was very interesting. I really enjoyed it! This is my third time participating in the dictation. This year, I decided to write the more challenging B2-C1 level.

Educational School RT named after A. Gagarin (Dushanbe, Tajikistan) once again became the absolute record holder in terms of the number of participants. More than 700 students and teachers from the school participated in the dictation.

Marina Petyaksheva, a history teacher and head of the professional development center at the Educational School RT named after A. Gagarin in Dushanbe:
This is the third time our school has participated in the Russian Dictation. The interest in the dictation is growing, and it is directly proportional to the number of participants. The interesting format and the lecture before the dictation have significantly expanded the participants' knowledge about Chekhov's work. Despite the unstable internet connection, we were able to complete the dictation. It was interesting to observe the students' dedication during the process. The teachers, including not only Russian language teachers but also other subject teachers, actively participated. The school came alive on a day off, and there was a sense of celebration. The text was challenging due to its punctuation. After the dictation, we spent a long time discussing various aspects of the dictation in the school corridors. We are eagerly awaiting the results!

Marina Petyaksheva, a history teacher and head of the professional development center at the Educational School RT named after A. Gagarin in Dushanbe:

This is the third time our school has participated in the Russian Dictation. The interest in the dictation is growing, and it is directly proportional to the number of participants. The interesting format and the lecture before the dictation have significantly expanded the participants' knowledge about Chekhov's work. Despite the unstable internet connection, we were able to complete the dictation. It was interesting to observe the students' dedication during the process. The teachers, including not only Russian language teachers but also other subject teachers, actively participated. The school came alive on a day off, and there was a sense of celebration. The text was challenging due to its punctuation. After the dictation, we spent a long time discussing various aspects of the dictation in the school corridors. We are eagerly awaiting the results!

The Russian Dictation at the Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University is a comprehensive cultural and educational project. This year, Alexey Chernyakov, an associate professor at the IKBFU, gave a lecture on "A Sad Comedy about Love and Creativity."

The dictation text was specially prepared for the competition by Yuri Domansky, a renowned researcher of Chekhov's work and a professor at the Russian State University for the Humanities. The text was read by Olga Vertinskaya, an associate professor of the IKBFU's Higher School of Communications and Creative Industries.

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Daria Gerber, Director of the International Office:
Year after year, the Russian Dictation becomes a significant event that brings people from all over the world together. This year, our virtual platform has attracted around four thousand people who are interested in the Russian language. Participants from more than 105 countries, from Canada to China, have joined us. We are witnessing how the dictation is becoming a global event, where every participant, regardless of their geographical location, becomes part of a large cultural community of Russian language enthusiasts.

Daria Gerber, Director of the International Office:

Year after year, the Russian Dictation becomes a significant event that brings people from all over the world together. This year, our virtual platform has attracted around four thousand people who are interested in the Russian language. Participants from more than 105 countries, from Canada to China, have joined us. We are witnessing how the dictation is becoming a global event, where every participant, regardless of their geographical location, becomes part of a large cultural community of Russian language enthusiasts.

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The Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University would like to express it’s gratitude to Rossotrudnichestvo (Russian Centers of Science and Culture Abroad), as well as partner schools and universities, for their support of the Russian Dictation project.