ABSTRACT
Russia faces a number of challenges to socio-economic development, the most dangerous of which is the depopulation of rural areas. Traditionally, policymakers have viewed rural development as a secondary goal to agricultural production, especially in the light of policies to increase agricultural exports. All this does not contribute to their development. The authors discuss the main challenges to rural development and describe how the recently adopted state program for integrated rural development, focused on supporting local initiatives, can reverse current trends. Among the most important measures are the development of the Internet and the participation of citizens, businesses, municipalities and their consortia in initiative projects. The effects of COVID-19 will have both positive and negative effects on rural development, but the pandemic has made people more likely to think about moving to the countryside.