President Herminie highlighted that Seychelles–Russia relations are entering a new phase as both countries mark 50 years of Seychelles’ independence and the establishment of diplomatic ties. He welcomed recent milestones, including the upcoming opening of the Seychelles Embassy in Moscow, Russian participation in National Day celebrations, and ongoing cooperation such as the donation of specialised dogs to the Seychelles Police.

He further noted Russia’s long-standing support dating back to the Soviet era and reaffirmed Seychelles’ commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, particularly through enhanced tourism links, with the anticipated resumption of Aeroflot flights expected to significantly improve connectivity between the two countries.

The President also pointed to emerging areas of cooperation, including space technology for maritime monitoring, as well as continued collaboration in sports, particularly athlete development and boxing. He expressed appreciation for Russia’s continued engagement and optimism for deeper cooperation in the future.

On his part, H.E. Mr Maxim Oreshkin congratulated President Herminie and his team on the successful Independence Day celebrations held at the stadium the previous day and conveyed warm greetings from President Vladimir Putin, following their recent meeting in Russia, noting that discussions held there are now being progressively implemented.

He highlighted the planned resumption of Aeroflot direct flights between Moscow and Seychelles in early July, which is expected to significantly increase tourist flows and overall passenger traffic compared to last year. He described this as a positive development, particularly for Russian visitors, given Seychelles’ favourable climate.

Another key area of discussion was the opening of the Russian market to Seychelles fish-based products, which is expected to enable high-quality Seychellois exports to enter Russia in the near future.

Mr Oreshkin also commended President Herminie for his decision to participate in the Russia–Africa Engagement Forum in early October. Further discussions covered cooperation in digital development and digital sovereignty, as well as partnerships in energy, health, and education aimed at strengthening knowledge exchange and capacity building for mutual benefit.

President Herminie also noted Seychelles’ participation in the upcoming Indian Ocean Island Games next year, referring to the recent MoU signed in June 2026 in St. Petersburg between the Minister for Youth, Sports and Family, Mr Kevin Belle, and the Minister for Sports of the Russian Federation, Mr Mikhail Degtyarev. He requested increased early-stage training support for athletes, including the deployment of coaches to Seychelles to assist in youth development and strengthen the country’s preparations for the games.

President Herminie was the first President of Seychelles to visit the Russian Federation earlier this year in April.