International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property

Russian Federation


N.B.: General country data and external links have been provided by the Member State. * Uploaded: 06/2020

General Country data

The main cultural assets of the Russian Federation

The cultural heritage of Russia is known for its richness and the long history of its protection and studies, which starts from the orders of Peter the Great in the early 18th century and evolves into the elaborate system of heritage institutions during Soviet era. Russia is particularly famous worldwide with the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, the Red Square and the Kremlin in Moscow, the wooden churches of Kizhi. However, the unprecedented diversity of the cultural assets of Russia on a bigger scale of its 85 regions is not only encompassing historic centers, archaeological sites, architectural monuments, memorial sites, and cultural landscapes, but also archival, museum and library collections as well as traditions, customs, crafts, festivals, land-use patterns and languages of its peoples.

The legal framework on cultural heritage conservation

The complex legal framework for cultural heritage protection, conservation, use and promotion in Russia is based on the Federation Law No. 73-FZ “On Cultural Heritage Properties of the Peoples of the Russian Federation” and strengthened by federal regulations, state standards as well as regional laws (See UNESCO Database of National Cultural Heritage Laws). The immovable cultural heritage such as historic buildings, monuments; archaeological, industrial and memorial sites; cultural landscapes and historic centers are listed in the State Register of Cultural Heritage.

The cultural and natural sites on the World Heritage List

There are 30 cultural and natural sites inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage List. From transnational Curonian Spit in the west to serial Volcanoes of Kamchatka in the east; the World Heritage sites are located all over the country, representing the rich and diverse heritage of Russia. The state of conservation of the World Heritage sites as well as new nominations are among the priorities of the State Strategy for Cultural Policy 2030. These activities are assisted by the Russian Scientific Research Institute for Cultural and Natural Heritage established in 1992 to ensure the implementation of the World Heritage Convention (1972) in Russia. At the same time, the Basic Organization of the CIS countries for World Heritage Conservation was established in 2014 to support international cooperation and dialogue between heritage professionals and institutions of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.


Adhesion to ICCROM

Russian Federation is a Member State of ICCROM since 01/05/2014

Within ICCROM

Mandates in ICCROM Council since 1958:

  • 2018-2025: Nina Shangina

ICCROM Staff since 1959: 1

Involvement of Russian Nationals

Activities in/with the Russian Federation since 2002


Activities details

Activities details


  • 2002 - 1 Mission(s)
  • 2005 - 1 Mission(s)
  • 2006 - 2 Mission(s)
  • 2007 - 3 Mission(s)
  • 2008 - 1 Mission(s)
  • 2009 - 2 Mission(s)
  • 2010 - 2 Mission(s)
  • 2011 - 2 Mission(s)
  • 2012 - 3 Mission(s)
  • 2013 - 1 Mission(s)
  • 2014 - 1 Mission(s)
  • 2015 - 3 Mission(s), 1 Partnership(s)
  • 2016 - 2 Mission(s), 1 Partnership(s)
  • 2017 - 1 Course(s), 4 Mission(s)
  • 2018 - 2 Mission(s)
  • 2019 - 1 Course(s), 2 Mission(s)
  • 2021 - 1 Mission(s)
  • 2023 - 1 Mission(s)


External links

Governmental Cultural Institutions

Museums and Cultural Heritage Institutions


* ICCROM reserves the right to moderate the content provided by Member States for country profiles to ensure that they remain within the scope of ICCROM’s mission and pertinent to cultural heritage. However, ICCROM does not take responsibility for the accuracy and validity of the content supplied. The ideas and opinions expressed are those of the Member States.