Our team

The creation and development of the Russian Association of the most beautiful villages involved a team of experts and practitioners with extensive experience in the field of rural development and related fields. The initiative launched through intensive teamwork on a grant basis from the beginning of 2014. We'd love to see in their new ranks of experienced experts and enthusiasts who are ready to contribute to the preservation and development of rural cultural and historical heritage of Russia.

Alexander V. Merzlov

President of the Association

Head of Center of sustainable development of rural territories, Professor at Department of agrarian tourism at RGAU-MSHA named after K.A. Timiryazev, Dr in Economics; Expert of the Council of Europe on cultural routes

Ivan I. Kulintsev

Chairman of the Board, co-founder of the Association

Anatoly E. Karpov

Expert of the Association

Deputy Chairman of the Vladimir regional branch of the Russian geographical society

Julia V. Saenko

Expert of the Association

Representative in the Siberian region

Lubov A. Ovchintseva

Expert of the Association

Senior researcher at the Russian Institute of agrarian problems and informatics named after A. A. Nikonov, candidate in economics

Jacques Ragon

Foreign expert of the Association

The President of the French Association Taiga-Europe

Pascal Bernard

Foreign expert of the Association

Executive Director of the Association of the most beautiful villages of France