In 2018, an organisation was established in Moscow whose very name sets the security services’ alarm bells ringing – the ‘Russkiy Mir’ Foundation for the Promotion of the Protection of Citizens’ Rights and Legitimate Interests Abroad. The Foundation was established ‘on the initiative of the International Union of Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Public Associations “Soviet Peace Fund”, the International Foundation for Business Cooperation and Interaction in the Fields of Science, Education, Healthcare, Culture, and the Development of Intellectual Systems and Innovative Technologies, and the Regional Public Organisation “Moscow Lawyers’ Union”… . The Foundation’s website contains information on more than 2,000 solicitors and lawyers worldwide who are ready to provide legal support to Russian-speaking citizens.”
The specific aim of the new ‘Russian World’ is ‘to assist citizens and legal entities of the Russian Federation in defending their rights, freedoms, legitimate interests and claims abroad, and to provide information, legal assistance and material support by engaging lawyers and experts. The Foundation carries out its activities by maintaining links with overseas public associations of Russian compatriots and human rights organisations, as well as with international governmental and non-governmental organisations, including those working in the field of human rights and the protection of national minorities.”  
The Foundation’s objectives, as set out on the World Association of Higher Education Graduates’ website, are as follows: ‘To bring together Russian-speaking lawyers, legal professionals and human rights defenders abroad. To bring together Russian-speaking communities and entrepreneurs abroad.
To organise cultural and educational events aimed at preserving and promoting the Russian language and culture. To support Russian-language media projects and publishing houses that contribute to the dissemination of information about the Russian world. Establishing a network of cooperation with other foundations and organisations engaged in supporting and protecting the Russian world, to exchange experience and coordinate joint activities.
Assisting Russian-speaking migrants and refugees with integration, and providing resources for language learning and the acquisition of professional skills.
Organising exchange programmes and work placements for students and professionals from various countries, enabling them to familiarise themselves with the Russian language and culture.
Actively working with government bodies and international organisations to protect the rights of Russian-speaking citizens and prevent discrimination and persecution on the grounds of nationality or linguistic affiliation.” 
This is roughly how the objectives of all Russian ‘civil society’ organisations abroad are formulated – disseminating information, establishing contacts, promoting the language, defending the ‘Russian world’, and attracting foreign students to Russia – all traditional tasks of the Russian security services. 
The foundation’s main objective – protecting the rights of Russian speakers abroad – appears the least convincing, simply because there is generally no need for such protection. 
Sergey Baburin, Chairman of the Foundation’s Presidium and leader of the ‘Russian People’s Union’ party. 
Members of the Board of Trustees:
Anatoly Karpov, President of the International Union of Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Public Associations ‘Soviet Peace Fund’;
Georgy Muradov, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea – Permanent Representative of the Republic of Crimea to the President of the Russian Federation;
Yuri Kaplun, Adviser to the Director of the Moscow City State Autonomous Institution ‘Centre for Humanitarian and Business Cooperation with Compatriots Abroad – Moscow House of Compatriots’;
It is possible that the foundation was established to compete with the older ‘Russian World’ foundation, headed by Nikonov. In any case, the new foundation’s partners include Pravfond and the Peoples’ Friendship University, but do not include Rossotrudnichestvo, Nikonov’s ‘Russian World’ or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Among the members of the presidium is the executive director of the International Council of Russian Compatriots, but there are no representatives from the World Congress of Russian Compatriots or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Overall, this indicates a lower level of institutional support for ‘Russian World’ Fund No. 2 than for ‘Russian World’ Fund No. 1.
The Foundation has authorised representatives in Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Germany. 
The Foundation’s website features a list of Russian-speaking legal advisers from 115 countries. For example, there are 19 in Germany and 5 in Cyprus.  It is reasonable to assume that the list has been compiled in response to enquiries made to Russian embassies in various countries. The list itself is extremely interesting. Overseas lawyers with business ties to high-ranking Moscow officials are ideal agents with a wide circle of contacts across a broad spectrum of society.