Purpose statement
IBT's main aim is to translate, publish and distribute the Bible in the languages of the non-Slavic peoples living in Russia and the other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). These 85 million non-Slavic peoples represent a tremendous diversity of language (at least 130 different languages) and religion (Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Shamanism).Some of these peoples number many millions; other languages have only a few thousand speakers. Some of the languages have a long written tradition; in others a written form is only now being created.
The office of IBT Russia/CIS is locatedin St. Andrew's Monastery in Moscow (also the location of the reading room of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Synodal Library), on the banks of the Moscow River next to the new building of the Russian Academy of Sciences Presidium. IBT is a non-profit scholarly organization with staff from different Christian traditions and denominations.
IBT strives to make accurate and faithful translations which reveal the message of the Bible to modern readers in their own languages. IBT’s office in Moscow coordinates the work of65 translation projects. Translation team members live in different cities and countries, but at certain stages of their work it is necessary for them to meet and work together. In addition to coordinating and administering the work of Bible translation, the office also holds seminars for translators and exegetical checkers. There are usually three such seminars each year. In addition to its Bible publications, IBT also produces Scripture books for children, Bible reference works and scientific materials related to the receptor languages.
Publishing
IBT publishes quality editions appropriate for a book’s content and readers’ expectations. The Moscow office prepares the translated Bible texts for publishing. The staff is involved in typesetting, illustrations, maps and cover design. In addition, technical assistance, such as computer hardware and software support, font problems, etc., is provided by Moscow office staff to translators in the field. IBT maintains contacts with printing houses in Russia and abroad.
IBT coordinates the distribution of the published editions through cooperation with distribution partners - churches of all denominations, libraries, educational and scientific institutions, IBTorganizes presentationsof its publications, issuesa Newsletter in English andGerman and publishes an information bulletin"News of Bible Translation" in Russian.
IBT Russia/CIS is a non-profit organizationfinanced through charity donations and contributions from individuals, organizations & foundations.
 Archpriest Alexander Troickij - the Chairman of the Board of the Institute for Bible Translation, Russia/CIS since 2003. He is thechief bibliographer of the Synodal Library of the Russian Orthodox Church.
 Dr. Vitaly Voinov - the director of the Institute for Bible Translation, Russia/CIS since 1 October 2013. A linguist and experienced Bible translator, Voinov has worked with IBT for fifteen years, spending almost nine of these onsite in the south Siberian region of Tuva, where he helped to make the first-ever translation of the Bible in theTuvan language a reality in 2011. Besides this, he also served as the exegete for the Children's Bible in theGagauzi language of Moldova.
Dr. Marianne Beerle-Moor - the director of the Institute for Bible Translation, Russia/CIS from 1997 until 2013. She is a specialist in the field of linguistics and ethno-linguistics (Caucasian studies and Lezgi grammar), PHD, Doctor (honoris causa) of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and consultant for translation projects.In February 2002 Dr. Beerle-Moor was awarded the Order of St. Dmitriy Donskoy and St. Sergius of Radonezh “For Serving the Native Land” for IBT's advancement of spiritual and moral formation in Russian society. In May 2005 Dr. Beerle-Moor was awarded the Order of Civil Valour by the Yakut Republic for IBT"s work towards the revival of spirituality and the translation of the New Testament into theYakut language.
In November 2009 Dr. Beerle-Moor was awarded the “Forever together” medal of the Kalmyk Republic for IBT's work on Bible translation into theKalmyk language. In September 2013, Dr. Marianne Beerle-Moor was honored by the Russian Orthodox Church with the prestigious St. Innoсent Award for her selfless work to promote the translation and publication of the books of the New Testament in theKoryak andItelmen languages, spoken by the native peoples of Kamchatka.
Since 1 October 2013 Dr. Beerle-Moor is a translation consultant in the Lezgiproject.
Dr. Borislav Arapovic - the founder of the Institute for Bible Translation, renowned specialist in Slavic languages, poet, member of the Swedish Slavists’ Association, the Swedish Writers’ Union and the Croatian Writers’ Union of Bosnia-Herzegovina, PHD, Doctor (honoris causa) and Foreign Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.For the creation of the Children’s Bible Dr. Borislav Arapovic was awarded the Leo Tolstoy medal by the Russian Children’s Fund. | 
