On Wednesday, October 29, 2025, His Excellency Elbrus Kutrashev, the Federal Russian Ambassador to Iraq, along with an accompanying delegation, visited the Vision foundation for strategic studies. He was received by Adnan Osman, the head of the Vision Foundation, along with members of its board.
In his speech before several political and governmental figures, journalists, and representatives of civil society organizations who attended the event, Ambassador Kutrashev emphasized that Russia considers Kurdistan its second home and that the Kurdish issue is not unfamiliar to Russia, but rather an important one. He mentioned that Russian researchers have long visited Kurdistan and expressed his pleasure at meeting with such a distinguished group of people for the first time in Sulaymaniyah.
Kutrashev added that Iraq is one of Russia’s top priorities, noting that Moscow has an optimistic view of the situation in Iraq and maintains strong political, economic, and cultural ties with the country. He affirmed that Russia supported Iraq in its war against ISIS, providing aircraft and assistance, and conveyed the message that Iraq is not alone and has friends.
He also stated that the volume of Russian investment in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region exceeds $20 billion, and this amount is expected to grow in the future. However, US and Western economic sanctions have hindered further development.
Regarding the situation in Rojava and Syria, the ambassador said that Russia maintains relations with the Autonomous Administration, recognizing it as a de facto authority rather than an official government, stressing that there cannot be two governments within one state. He added that Kurds are part of the Syrian nation and that Russia believes in the right of peoples to self-determination, but this must go hand in hand with respect for sovereignty, borders, and international law. He also referred to current relations between Moscow and Damascus and the recent visit of Syrian President Ahmad Shar’a to Russia.
The ambassador further discussed the outcomes of the Russia–Ukraine war, accusing the United States and the West of escalating the conflict by supporting Ukraine against Russia. Concerning the sanctions imposed on his country, he stated that while they have had some negative effects domestically, they have had an even greater impact on Europe and the world.
The visit concluded with a rich question-and-answer session and discussions between the guests and the Russian Federal Ambassador.