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The Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030), declared by the World Health Organization, sets a number of goals for the global community to maximize the potential of older people. The problem of evaluating the effectiveness of active aging policies is becoming increasingly important. Attempts to apply an international tool, the Active Aging Index (AAI) in Russia, have revealed various challenges that hinder its use, including cross-country comparison. The aim of this study is to assess the compatibility of the AAI method with Russian national priorities, identify major problems with its use in Russia and identify ways to increase the effectiveness of this index as a tool for socio-demographic policies. Based on an analysis of Russian strategic papers on active aging, as well as secondary analysis of social research, problems with using the AIA methodology in Russia were identified. Conceptually, there is a conflict between the core domains of the index and the most significant issues faced by elderly Russians. Methodologically, there are differences in domain structure and methods for calculating weights for combining indicators into a composite index. Informationally, this is caused by partial incompatibility of statistical data from different sources and sociological data collection systems in Russia and EU countries. This paper identifies opportunities to improve the effectiveness of AAI as a socioeconomic policy tool. Potential lies in adjusting the structure and contents of domains to reflect Russian (regional) priorities; refining weighting factors for individual indicators; and maximizing use of statistical data collected throughout Russia using a unified methodology. However, these decisions would deprive Russia's version of AAI international comparability, but Russia's goal of achieving active, healthy and fulfilling lives in old age is consistent with international conceptual documents, suggesting the feasibility of applying international tools to evaluate implementation of relevant policy in Russian Federation. Identified challenges with using Active Aging Index in Russia underscore the need for developing a domestic tool that reflects national objectives and priorities in active aging as well as available information resources at federal and regional level. Study results can inform the development and implementation of federal and regional active aging programs.