SGI-Russia Establishes New Districts

Fifteen years have passed since SGI-Russia was formed in 1994 during SGI President Daisaku Ikeda's sixth visit to Russia. Since then, SGI-Russia members have engaged in dialogue and expanded friendships in their communities.

Adding to its four districts in the capital city Moscow, SGI-Russia recently established new districts in St. Petersburg, Vladivostok and Nizhny Novgorod. On May 30, 2009, SGI-Russia members in Nizhny Novgorod, about 400 kilometers east of Moscow, gathered to kick-off their new district. A meeting to inaugurate a new district in Vladivostok, eastern Russia, was held on May 1. SGI-Russia Women's Leader Mariko Yashiki attended. Prior to the meeting, SGI General Director Yoshitaka Oba and other SGI leaders visiting from Japan met with members in Vladivostok and congratulated them on the establishment of their new district. In St. Petersburg, some 30 members gathered to celebrate their district formation on March 21.

[Adapted from an article in the June 8, 2009 issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, Soka Gakkai, Japan; photos courtesy of SGI-Russia]