Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The student festival "KVN: Battle of Russian University Branches" took place in Tashkent, marking World Laughter Day.

The event brought together talented students, educators, and members of the cultural community, becoming a vibrant highlight in the sphere of humanitarian cooperation between the two countries.

The festival was organized by the Representative Office of Rossotrudnichestvo in the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Youth Union of the National Research University “MPEI” Tashkent branch. The event gathered over 250 guests, including students, faculty, and representatives of leading educational and cultural institutions.

Irina Alexandrovna Staroselskaya, Head of the Rossotrudnichestvo Office in Uzbekistan, delivered a welcoming speech, emphasizing the importance of such initiatives for strengthening friendly ties between Russia and Uzbekistan, supporting youth projects, and fostering students’ creative potential.

The comedy competition featured teams from eight branches of Russian universities:
Plekhanov Russian University of Economics (Tashkent branch), Lomonosov Moscow State University (Tashkent branch), Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas (Tashkent branch), MGIMO-Tashkent, MPEI National Research University (Tashkent branch),
MEPhI National Research Nuclear University (Tashkent branch), Herzen State Pedagogical University (Tashkent branch), and Kazan Federal University (branch in Jizzakh).

The teams’ performances were evaluated by an expert jury comprising representatives from the theater, show business, and cultural sectors. The key judging criteria included originality, stage presence, and sense of humor.

The winners were:

1st place — Echpochmaki (KFU branch, Jizzakh)
2nd place — Mgimoshniki (MGIMO-Tashkent)
3rd place — What if not MSU? (MSU branch), TechnoNeft (Gubkin University branch), and Jokes Aside (Herzen University branch)

The project marked a significant step forward in the development of Russian-Uzbek humanitarian cooperation, contributing to the strengthening of academic ties, the unveiling of young people’s creative talents, and the formation of a shared educational and cultural space.