On July 21, 2026, CIS Secretary-General Sergey Lebedev and TASS News Agency Director General Andrei Kondrashov opened the photo exhibition 35 Years of the CIS Through the Lens of TASS at TASS Square in Moscow.
Addressing those present at the opening ceremony, Sergey Lebedev said:
“It is symbolic that this project has been organized by TASS, which has been documenting major events in world history through its news reports and photographs for more than 120 years. TASS is not only Russia’s oldest news agency but also one of the leading media organizations across the Commonwealth of Independent States. In this regard, I would particularly like to highlight TASS’s important role within the CIS Information Council, which helps shape an objective image of the Commonwealth.
“For me this exhibition is deeply symbolic. It is a kind of historical photo album preserving our collective memory. Over the past 35 years, the Commonwealth has travelled a difficult but overall positive path. Today, the Commonwealth of Independent States is an economic and political association that promotes the effective development of each of its member state.
“An objective assessment of the Commonwealth’s 35-year history provides every reason to conclude that it remains relevant and capable of combining common interests with the national priorities of its member states.
“The ideas of friendship, mutual assistance and good neighborliness on which the Commonwealth is founded reflect the aspirations of our peoples, who want the CIS to remain a region of stability, harmony and sustainable social and economic development.
“Our shared goal is to live up to the expectations of the peoples of the Commonwealth. To achieve this, we must fully harness the enormous integration potential of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
“The photographs displayed here capture only some of the milestones along the Commonwealth’s remarkable 35-year journey. Many more achievements still lie ahead.”
TASS Director General Andrei Kondrashov said:
“Throughout these years, TASS has closely followed and reported on the most important developments across the Commonwealth. We have provided prompt and objective coverage while always maintaining genuine sympathy for the peoples of the CIS countries, who contribute to preserve good relations, mutual respect and a common vision for the development of these ties. The exhibition named “35 Years of the CIS Through the Lens of TASS” looks not only to the past but also to the future. Documentary photography does more than record historical moments; it also preserves the memory that will enable future generations to view the events of history objectively.”
Twenty archive photographs from the TASS photo agency, TASS Photobank, are currently displayed on digital screens in TASS Square. They constitutes the first part of the exhibition. The second part will be unveiled in December 2026.