Tag: Rossotrudnichestvo

Today we may more and more often hear about a lot of pro-Russian politicians and public figures here in Europe as well as ordinary European citizens sympathizing to Russia. Strange to say, this happens despite obvious violations of the democratic rights and freedoms by Russia both in relation to their own national and to other states. Perhaps, phenomenon of such benevolence partly can be explained with arduous efforts of numerous organizations of Russian compatriots abroad and effective public diplomacy under the framework of which various non-governmental funds, associations, unions and other organizations interact. Moreover, Russia actively uses their USSR successor status for strengthening sympathies and advancing specific state foreign policy goals at the public and interpersonal levels.

Activity of the Russian Federation aimed at worldwide creation and functioning of the Russian-speaking communities (which, by the way, Russia afterwards heroically protects), is coordinated by the state agency which is financed from the state budget and strictly follows the party line. That is the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation, or simply Rossotrudnichestvo, founded in 2008. Today it governs a network of 98 Russian centers of science and culture as well as network of representative offices in the Russian Embassies. In addition, Rossotrudnichestvo covers all organizations for compatriots abroad and finances public diplomacy projects.

Since 2014, after President of Russia signed the Concept of State Policy of the Russian Federation in the field of the Assistance to International Development (Presidential Decree No. 259 of April 20, 2014) Rossotrudnichestvo officially became a leader of Russian “soft power”. Moreover, all international financial aid passes through this Federal Agency.

The most known program is the “New generation”, a program of short-term study tours to Russia. It is designed for young social and political activists, scientists, representatives of printed and electronic media, of scientific and business community of the foreign states. The purpose of this program is deepening public, business and scientific relations between the Russian Federation and the foreign states, promotion of the “objective” perspective of the social and political, economic and other transformations in the Russian society by the world community. Moreover, extension of a circle of active foreign young citizens who are positively-spirited in relation to Russia and their attraction to participation in strengthening of partnership with these states that is the most important for the Russian Federation.

However, that is only foreside of this activity, while behind the curtain we may see active recruitment of prospective agents of influence who will further hold important positions in civil service and carry out “personal commissions” from authorities and business circles for lobbying the Russian projects and advance interests of Russia and its representatives.

To make the picture complete, it is worth showing statistics: only in 2017 about 1 000 delegates from 100 countries visited Russia under the “New Generation” program, between 2011 and 2017 – by 5 000 delegates. Perhaps in the future someone of them will turn into one more Gerhard Schröder, Sigmar Gabriel, Miloš Zeman, Viktor Orbán, Alexis Tsipras, Marine Le Pen or Jean-Pierre Chevènement.

Another diplomatic trick has already become the lever of political pressure. Since 2016, Rossotrudnichestvo successfully has introduced the Concept of the Federal Target Program “Russian Language” integrated in January, 2018 into the Sate Program of the Russian Federation “Education Development”. This program primarily is aimed at improvement of conditions for strengthening and spread of Russian in the CIS states. For this purpose, the Agency is assigned with a task to ensure deliveries of not only textbooks and manuals on Russian, but also of Russian-language magazines and other printing editions abroad. In addition, it holds major, socially important events popularizing Russian and extending sphere of its influence as well as a possibility of Russian-language education in foreign states. That makes the Russian-speaking audience, capable of absorbing and understanding “the high purposes” of the Russian state, and of their subsequent support growing exponentially.

Here is only a short list of the actions financed by Russia in the name of world expansion. This year the initiative of the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs “Global Challenges 2018” started in Moscow, the International BaltArtek Youth Educational Forum is organized in the Kaliningrad region, the Russian-Balkan Youth Forum will take place in Ryazan; Academy of Young Leaders will hold meeting in Bulgaria, the “Russians in Paris” project is launched in Paris. The prime purpose of such events in consolidation of the young compatriots’ efforts aimed at advancing of the purposes of “the Russian world” abroad and creating preconditions for cooperation development with the foreign states.

It should be noted that promotion of the Russian interests abroad is also supported by the World Association of Graduates of the Russian Higher Education Institutions. In 2017, the European forum of graduates was held in Berlin with the support of the World Association and Rossotrudnichestvo. In 2018, this forum will be hosted by Serbia. Many foreign graduates of above-mentioned higher education institutions hold important positions in their states, are engaged in public, commercial, research and cultural work. It gives to the Russian Federation the chance to prepare political elite and to lay the foundation for further beneficial foreign policy for Russia.

Formally, in the eyes of the third parties, this cultural and humanitarian activity is no different for example from the activity of the Goethe-Institute, Confucius Institute or the Open Society Foundations (the latter, by the way, are accused by Russia of intelligence activities in favor of the USA) being focused both on assistance in studying and advance of great Russian language and establishing interaction between the states which does not contradict the European democratic values. However, when analyzing numerous programs and actions of Rossotrudnichestvo, it becomes clear that using the methods of the former KGB USSR, Russia creates worldwide the “islands” of subversive activities, propaganda, and possible expansion of territories for the purpose of the Russian-speaking population protection (http://tinypic.com/r/33arxhl/9). Therefore, all of us should look closely at the activity of the so-called “national diplomats” otherwise it would be late.

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Humanitarian cooperation is an important development factor for the international relations, while implementation of the international cultural, educational and scientific projects without a doubt facilitates strengthening of international relations. However, witnessing an unstable situation in the east of Europe, we can draw absolutely unexpected conclusion: Russia actively exploits cultural, educational and scientific projects as one of the hybrid war instruments.

Situation in the eastern regions of Ukraine is a striking example. Official Kiev repeatedly claimed use of hybrid forms of aggression by the Russian Federation and it becomes clear upon a closer examination that these charges have solid grounds.

During the Post-Soviet period, especially at president Yanukovych times, Russia established a network of various non-profit organizations in the territory of Ukraine, which pursued the purpose of promoting the so-called “Russian world”. Such quite apolitical slogans of public organizations, funds and grants become the curtain for the purposeful work on promoting of neo-imperialist, militaristic views which de facto represent state ideology of the Russian Federation.

The sophisticated propaganda aimed at creation of chaos, mutual distrust and eventually oriented at undermining the state sovereignty of the foreign states, distinguishes the Russian so-called public organizations from the known European and American non-profit humanitarian or charitable organizations, which do not receive governmental financing as a rule. Russian humanitarian organizations obtain financing directly from the budget of the Russian Federation, and special media portals cover their activity.

Particularly, activity of such non-governmental organizations as the Russian Russkiy Mir Foundation, the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation, St.Andrew the First-Called Foundation, the ‘Russian Abroad’ Foundation-Library, the Russian Cultural Fund, the International Council of the Russian Compatriots, the Russian Theatre Union, the International Union of the Museums, the International Sister Сity Association, the Moscow Union of Friendship Societies, the St. Petersburg Association for International Cooperation and others goes hand in hand with operation of the Rossotrudnichestvo – Russian Federal Agency. The Russian Association for the International Cooperation (RAIC) is one of the principal partners of this agency, bringing together more than 100 public organizations, including societies for friendship with foreign states. By means of the so-called ‘public diplomacy’, under the veil of implementation of international cultural, educational and scientific projects, Russia (through the organizations we have named) performs information influence and special operations in order to implement quite concrete interests. Ukraine is the most striking and evident example of such hidden expansion from which hardly any state of the world is protected.

Activity of such pro-Russian public organizations as International Pedagogical Club and All-Ukrainian Public Organization ‘Russkaya School’ in the territory of Ukraine may serve as an example.

The latter is especially noteworthy since it is registered in the directory of the Russian Russkiy Mir Foundation, which is directly financed by the Russian Foreign Ministry. They are governed by Mr. Alexander Kondryakov – the native of Poti (Georgia), former deputy of Ukrainian parliament, who lived previously in Sevastopol (Crimea). Mr. Kondryakov makes no secret of his pro-Russian orientation, he is engaged in promoting Russian in Ukraine, distributes the ‘Russkaya Shkola’ journal, organizes cultural and educational events. At a first glance, activity of the organizations governed by him does not fall outside the scope of humanitarian sphere and does not conflict with the international and Ukrainian legislation. However, as in times of undeclared Russian aggression these organizations advance the projects implemented for the benefit of the aggressor state, then their activity does not seem to be so harmless.

For example, early this year the above-mentioned Russkaya Shkola journal run by Mr. Kondryakov appeared in the center of the juicy scandal associated with distribution of the journal at the Ukrainian schools, allegedly by subscription (though it was not true). Publications of this issue propagate the ideas of “the Russian world” with expressly anti-Ukrainian subtext. This fact caused quite explainable indignation from school administrations, teachers and parents. The Russian propagandists immediately took advantage of the situation, overblew serious scandal and accused the Ukrainian authorities of infringement of the Russian-speaking population’s rights and of arousing hatred to Russians. All this testifies to conducting subversive activities by Russia involving the so-called public organizations led by Mr. Kondryakov.

In addition, the fact that in 2015 Mr. Kondryakov was awarded with a departmental distinction of the compatriot granted by the Russian Foreign Ministry is quite significant. You may ask what he has done. It is highly improbable that in 2015, at the height of the Russian military aggression against Ukraine Mr. Kondryakov, being a resident of the annexed Crimea at that time, received an award from the Government of the Russian Federation for nothing but support of educational programs and development of the Russian culture in Ukraine.

By the way, on the Russkiy Mir Foundation’s website we may find Kondryakov’s interview in which he supports Crimea annexation in every possible way, telling about “terrible oppressions” of Russian-speaking citizens in Ukraine. However, despite of such grave charges, liberal commitments of the Ukrainian leaders allow working of such organizations as led by Mr. Kondryakov in Ukraine. But at the same time, the only library of the Ukrainian literature in Moscow was closed in 2015, and its director Natalya Sharina has been under investigation and house arrest for several years on absolutely far-fetched charge of incitement of national hatred and hostility.

It seems obvious that through such establishments as ‘Russkaya Shkola’, the Russian Federation is engaged not only in promotion of “the Russian world”, but also manages attitudes of the Russian-speaking citizens in other states. The Russian security services, using the humanitarian field (cultural, scientific and educative projects), are engaged in active and rather successful blasting work abroad under cover of public organizations.

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Use of the so-called “soft force” by the Russian Federation poses serious threat to security of the Baltic States and contradicts their national interests. In particular, Russia frequently uses various methods of influence on Russian-speaking youth, with an eye to their further involvement in exercise of political power and possible support of pro-Kremlin policy in these states. To this end Russian security services engage the cultural centres such as, for example, “The Russian House” (regular designation of the centres promoting Russian culture abroad) and representative offices of the Rossotrudnichestvo which actually is a shield for intelligence activities and special operations abroad. Working under the shield is proven, highly convenient and, subsequently, extensively used form of engagement of Russian FSB and SVR staff abroad. Officers of these security services took fancy to the Rossotrudnichestvo in their activities as long as organisation is represented more than in 80 countries all around the world.

Gathering information about candidates for “exchange programs” is not only a legitimate part of official and lawful activity, but also highly convenient way of searching and recruiting agents. Thus, for example, school graduates, especially those of them, who have good recommendations from representatives of the pro-Russian organizations in the Baltic States, are proposed to get free higher education in Russia through the intermediary of Rossotrudnichestvo. Moscow also refunds excursions to Russia and stay in youth camps where students in addition to recreation may become acquainted with history of Russia, familiarize themselves with their political life, and study the basics of political strategies, public relations and military arts. Without a doubt, in the long run such camps set a goal to bring up generation of youth in the Baltic States which is loyal to Russia and developed system of values and ideology alien to their states.

Overload of Russian FSB and SVR representatives in Rossotrudnichestvo irritates even the officers of the ideological apparatus of the Russian Federation who are dissatisfied with a distortion of Rossotrudnichestvo’s activity for the benefit of security services. In this regard an interview with Tatyana Poloskova, the First Class State Councillor of Russia, professor of the Diplomatic Academy of the MFA of Russia, member of the Expert Advisory Board in Public and Humanitarian Programs at Rossotrudnichestvo, President of the interregional social movement Eurasian National Union, editor-in-chief of the Latin American editorial office of REGNUM informational agency, to Russian media (http://agentnews.ru/politika/rysskii-gambit-razvedki.html) has an indicative value. She is outraged by “congestion, above any reasonable limits, of FSB and SVR staff in foreign offices of Rossotrudnichestvo”. In her interview dedicated to issue of a new book “Triumph of Cattle” which is a sequel of her sensational “Cattle on Parquet” published in 2014, the author describes an internal situation in Rossotrudnichestvo in its true colours, putting it clear that her book affects interests of a good many. In particular, she discusses extremely unfavourable effects of the Russian security agencies’ intervention in Rossotrudnichestvo’s activity. According to Tatyana Polozkova, activity of security agencies and corruption in their ranks impede Rossotrudnichestvo in achieving goals and actually blocks primary activity of its representations abroad.

Here is an excerpt from her interview:

“Rep.: In your opinion, what will be the response to a release of your book expressing such rather radical ideas?

T.P.: I would not call them radical – rather, escalated. It is difficult to ascribe its authorship either to me personally, or to the whole group of authors working on the book. They have developed in public conscience long ago and break free. We simply expose to sound all the things that people are thinking about for a long time, in which they recognise immediately their reflections.

Along with it, our book will definitely touch upon the interests of a good many. In particular, we are going to bring up for discussion extremely unfavourable effects of Russian security services’ intervention in Rossotrudnichestvo’s activity.

Naturally, the mission of security services, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Rossotrudnichestvo are completely incompatible. Engagement of the security service officers in a number of Rossotrudnichestvo departments above any reasonable limits suppresses their primary activity. Security services secretly collect information and carry out special operations which is incompatible with free consolidation of persons supporting rapprochement with Russia and with their vigorous activity.

Reporter: May you specify these departments?

T.P.: Yes, sure. Moreover, basically that is the main reason why I agreed to give an interview to your edition, though not unhesitatingly. Such a decision was determined by the circumstances that information about preparation of our book appeared in the web and that seem quite strange for me.

Today the managerial influence of Rossotrudnichestvo, as well as MFA on the operation of key, high priority offices of the former is reduced in general to such an extent that it may be considered nominal. Among them there are Russian centres of science and culture in Vienna governed by Yuriy Zaytsev; in Budapest – governed by Valery Platonov; in Berlin – by Pavel Izvolsky; in Athens – by Alexander Homenko; in Madrid, where Mikhail Hodyakin was replaced recently by Eduard Sokolov; in Luxembourg – Vladimir Sokolov; in Warsaw – where Igor Proklov was replaced by Igor Zhukovskiy; in Prague – Andrey Konchakov, yet in deputy rank; in Kiev – Konstantin Vorobyov; in Ankara – where Enver Sheykhov replaced Natig Guliyev; embassy in Vilnius where Rossotrudnichestvo is represented by Matvei Dryukov. All these people had specific reputation which has nothing to do with assisting centres in operation. To cut a long story short, “everyone knows they are from FSB”. Naturally, nobody will try to prove it, though in receiving states this label is pinned on them inseparably.

The only fact that the government official of the Russian Federation of such a scale as Tatyana Polozkova who is distressed about blatant corruption and domination of security agencies in Rossotrudnichestvo system has to draw the attention of the authorities of the Baltic States to the activity of this organization. Perhaps it is a time to take decisive actions and put an end to this malignant growth of the ‘Russian world’ and a hotbed of the net of Russian agents in the Baltic.

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