ORGANIZER

Interregional Public Organization
“Association of Polar Explorers”

The Interregional Public Organization “Association of Polar Explorers” (ASPOL) was established at the All-Union Congress of Polar Explorers in 1990 to protect the interests of polar explorers, residents, and indigenous peoples of the Far North.

ASPOL’s main objectives:

Participates in the development and implementation of legislative initiatives aimed at supporting and developing polar territories

Facilitates the implementation of Russian state policy in the Arctic and Antarctic

Supports the involvement of young people and skilled professionals in the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation (AZRF)

Conducts research in the Arctic and Antarctic, including through the organization of drifting ice stations

Protects the interests of polar explorers and indigenous peoples of the Far North

Today, the Association includes 25 regional branches.

To strengthen and coordinate civic engagement, ASPOL has established public commissions focused on key areas of socio-economic development in the Russian Arctic Zone.

The Collegial Executive Body of the Association – the ASPOL Council – brings together representatives of the executive and legislative branches of government, scientific and educational institutions, business circles, and polar expedition enthusiasts who are committed to promoting public initiatives for the sustainable development of the Arctic Zone.

Each Arctic region is represented in the Council by deputies and senators, which contributes to the effective advancement of initiatives at both the federal and regional levels.

The commissions operate in 17 directions, including:

• Sustainable development
• Science and higher education
• Work with veterans
• Arctic medicine
• Arctic tourism
• Media
• Digital technologies, information systems, and telecommunications
• Space
• International cooperation
• Patriotic education and engagement with Arctic participants
• Interregional cooperation
• Youth policy, spiritual and cultural heritage
• Educational initiatives
• Ecology and rational use of natural resources
• Migration policy
• Sports and social infrastructure
• Polar aviation

In 2025, ASPOL established a Youth Council, which brings together youth-led initiatives to support socio-economic development, volunteerism, scientific and cultural projects, and to promote the Arctic among younger generations across the country.

Additionally, at ASPOL's initiative, four Polar Commissions were created under the governments of constituent entities of the Russian Federation to promote Arctic territorial development and interregional cooperation.

These commissions have been launched in Saint Petersburg, Arkhangelsk Region, Murmansk and Krasnoyarsk regions.