In April 2017, the Founding Congress of the Association of Russian Theatre Professionals Abroad. As reported, more than forty representatives of Russian theatres from 18 countries, both near and far abroad, took part in the congress. A message of welcome from V. I. Matvienko, Chair of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, was read out at the congress. 
Theatres, on the one hand, are an important element of cultural life in society, including the émigré community; on the other hand, they cannot survive without sponsorship. In this sense, they are far more vulnerable than the press and far more susceptible to recruitment than journalists and publishing houses. The creation of an Association of Russian Theatres, which dance to Moscow’s tune and are funded by it, allows Moscow to control their repertoire and keep directors and actors under its thumb. Theatre performances are an important part of all propaganda activities, both in Russia and abroad. 
Nikolai Sventitsky, director of the A. S. Griboedov Tbilisi State Russian Academic Drama Theatre, has become chairman of the board of the newly formed association. Alexander Kalyagin, chairman of the Union of Theatre Workers of the Russian Federation (until 2023), has become president of the Association. 
Whilst Kalyagin – a well-known actor – is, in this case, more of a figurehead, Sventitsky, judging by his titles and public appearances, is a proven and distinguished agent of Russian influence in Georgia. He is a member of the Presidium of the International Council of Russian Compatriots, chairman of the Co-ordinating Council of Russian Compatriots in Georgia, and president of the International Cultural and Educational Union ‘Russian Club’, which in turn is part of the International Union of Russian Compatriots (IURC). In 2021, Sventitsky was awarded a badge of honour by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  In addition, he holds numerous other Russian awards and honours, including the Order of Friendship (2006)  and the Order of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Blessed Prince Daniel of Moscow, 3rd class (2021). 

The association’s website lists the names of 105 theatre professionals – members of the association – and details the 100 theatres they represent, from Australia (2), Austria (4), Azerbaijan (4), Armenia (1), Belarus (6), Belgium (1), Bulgaria (2), the United Kingdom (2), Hungary (1), Germany (6), Georgia (1), Denmark (2), Israel (7), Spain (2), Kazakhstan (15), Qatar (1), Cyprus (1), Costa Rica (1), Kyrgyzstan (3), Latvia (2), Northern Ireland (1), the UAE (1), Transnistria (1), Moldova (2), Russia (6), Slovenia (1), the USA (6), Tajikistan (1), Turkmenistan (1), Turkey (1), Uzbekistan (2), France (2), Switzerland (2), Sweden (3) and Estonia (3). 
In April 2024, the Fifth International Conference ‘Russian Theatre Abroad as an Institution of Russian Culture’ was held in Svetlogorsk, Kaliningrad Oblast, at which 16 new members were admitted to the Association; as a result, it now has 188 members from 140 Russian theatres in 43 countries worldwide. The Association’s activities are funded by the ‘Russkiy Mir’ Foundation,   the Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation of the CIS Member States and Rossotrudnichestvo.
In the same year, 217, the International Union of Choreographers (IUC) was registered in St Petersburg.  Russian citizens make up the majority of the Union’s board members and jury members, but there are also many emigrants from the former USSR living in various countries around the world.