Author: jacksmith

A new scandal has broken out between Kiev and Budapest.

It may have decisive consequences for the mutual relations, as it touches upon a very sensitive topic for both sides – the issues of obtaining the citizenship and the passport of Hungary.

The modern Hungarian elites, like the Russian ones with their “Russkiy Mir” project, with the help of ethnic Hungarians and pro-Hungarian non-governmental organizations, are trying to revive their regional influence of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, promoting the idea of creating Hungarian autonomies in the territory of other states.

The Hungarian government conducts the most active and aggressive work on the formation of a platform for autonomies in Romania and Ukraine. Officials of the Hungarian state, such as the deputy of the European Parliament and the representative of the Romanian Hungarians, Laszlo Tökös, Hungary’s Ambassador to Ukraine Erno Keskeny or the Hungarian parliamentarian Marton Gengeshi, have repeatedly made statements on the necessity of creating autonomous entities of ethnic Hungarians.

Such “autonomy” policy of Hungary in the Székelyföld of Romania, where about one million of ethnic Hungarians live, and in Transcarpathian region of Ukraine regularly causes diplomatic scandals and political blackmail at the interstate level. Using the state resource and Hungarian public organizations the main objective of Hungary in Ukraine is to obtain actual control over the adjacent territories of Transcarpathian region, covering Berehovsky and Vinogradovsky areas, where the majority of ethnic Hungarians live. This policy is carried out in two main directions: the “passport policy” and the program of economic support for ethnic Hungarians at the expense of the state budget and the budget of public organizations. For the moment, the “passport policy” in Ukraine has ensured the support of ethnic Hungarians in the parliamentary elections of Fidesz Party, which activities have recently been accompanied by increasingly Euro-skeptical sentiments, while its leader, current Prime Minister Viktor Orban, maintains the position of implementation by Ukraine of a double citizenship for the Hungarians and believes that the only deterrent for speeding up the policy of obtaining autonomy in Transcarpathian region is the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

It was the ruling Fidesz Party, after winning the parliamentary elections in 2010, which as its first decisions in parliament, passed amendments to the law on citizenship and introduced a simplified procedure for its obtaining by foreign Hungarians. The law came into force on January 1, 2011.

Such ethnic Hungarians may vote in elections in Hungary not only by party lists, but also for majority candidates. Before the current Hungarian elections, HirTV channel, close to the “Jobbik” party, described how such voters were transported by buses from Transcarpathia to vote in Hungary.

Since then, in the countries of the Carpathian basin there has been an active passport issue for ethnic Hungarians. The most active processes are in Romania and Serbia – more than 400 000 and 114 000 of their citizens respectively, received Hungarian passports as of early 2015. As far as Ukraine is concerned, for the years of passport issue, figures were provided from Budapest only once: as of February 2015, almost 94 000 Transcarpathians obtained Hungarian citizenship under a simplified procedure. Then this information was made public by Árpád János Potápi, responsible for the national policy in the Hungarian government, who is still dealing with the same issue in the fourth Orban’s government. How many Hungarian passports Ukrainians received for the following 3.5 years? There is no data. It is only known that, as of August 2015, 124 000 applications for Hungarian citizenship were received from Ukraine.

In Romania and Serbia, dual or multiple citizenship is officially permitted, but in Ukraine or Slovakia, where half a million Hungarians live – no. And if Slovaks forbid their citizens to receive a Hungarian passport and have a clear procedure of “punishment” for those with a second passport, then in Ukraine the legislation is not so clear.

For many years the issue of dual citizenship of the Hungarians of Ukraine has been a taboo in the dialogue between the two countries. Budapest has systematically issued Hungarian passports to Ukrainian citizens of Hungarian origin, and Kiev, knowing this, only occasionally resented with this fact – but did it nominally without action in return.

But this Wednesday in Youtube there was a video that became a “trigger” of changes. The video, taken by a hidden camera or phone, shows a record of how citizens of Ukraine make fealty to Hungary. The ceremony takes place in Beregovo, in the Hungarian consulate. And in addition, the consul advises to new “double citizens” to hide from the Ukrainian authorities the fact of a passport obtaining.

So what are the real motives of Hungary, when it is so issuing documents abroad?

And what is the most important – what is the best way for actions by Kiev for not to be a looser in matters of national security? We may already state that this process has reached a point where it is unacceptable to ignore the problem.

Especially – after the Youtube video recording, it has become public what many guessed, but did not have clear evidence.

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The hypocrisy is taking over in the West: the aggressor state’s president Putin (which is waging propaganda war against the Western world) has managed to break international isolation. The number of Kremlin’s friends is increasing in the West.

The West is tired of confrontation with Putin: each time sanctions are prolonged forcedly, but Moscow has accommodated itself to such situation and does not face any serious problems because of restrictive measures.

However, since the annexation of Crimea, the West policy has never been coherent. Now, after the split of the West and after the election of American president who is afraid of Putin, the latter is using the situation for promotion of his own imperial ambitions.

The West was not split by itself, but the Russian president-aggressor did it: one part of western establishment condemns him, another part considers him as a strong leader whose public image is under pressure of Europeans. It was greatly contributed by the “successful” football championship in June. Putin has managed to create an illusion of freedom at the European guests. In fact, while fans were celebrating the victory of their teams, many imprisoners were being tortured and raped in Russian prisons. The great example of the “Russian Themis” is Oleg Sentsov, whose fate remains an important item of agenda for the whole world.

Putin has used vulnerabilities of Europe, i.e., anti-American tendencies and right populist sentiments caused by refugees’ crisis aggravation. Such mentality makes basis of Russians’ perception of the world. Medias, fully controlled by Kremlin, spread these messages via news and talk shows. The average Russian is often homophobe and racist, and is completely incompetent in the field of foreign policy and democratic values and therefore is completely loyal to the “leader”.

Putin’s strategy to deny permanently his participation in military campaigns, including Ukraine, and support of dictatorships around the world has achieved its goals. The discredit of “the world policeman”, the USA, under Trump’s ruling has contributed the same mission. The latter has proved to be unable to confront Putin and is inclining to support him. The fear that once Putin will confirm Russian intervention in presidential elections and its influence over the result – Trump’s victory – is too deep. Such scenario may cause loss of confidence of the US citizens and weaken Trump’s position inside the country. Therefore, Trump is on tenterhooks.

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This year, on July 11 the Greek authorities announced expulsion of two Russian diplomats. According to the official version, such actions were predetermined by an attempt to bribe a number of the Greek officials and priests of Greek Orthodox Church committed by the Russian diplomacy’s representatives. By the way, Greece is one of the few European states, which did not expel the Russian diplomats in response to poisoning of the former intelligence agent Sergey Skripal early in March in Britain by the Russian intelligence agencies. However, possibly even the patience of the Greek government came to end, despite of their more than loyal relation to Moscow.

Well, why then bribing priests, especially, representatives of the Athos monastery and Greek Metropolis? Everything is as simple as ABC – the Russian authorities uses the Russian Orthodox Church to interfere the Ukrainian Church with receiving autocephaly. They are seeking support of as many as possible representatives of orthodox clergy before the decisive meeting of the Synod at the beginning of September. Since the Russian Church, just as the whole Russian state, is governed by people with the semi-criminal past and without showy talents, they got used to act quite primitively – through threats and bribes.

However, the bribes are only one thing, another is explicit blackmail and threats. Head of the Russian Church – Patriarch Kirill has repeatedly stated that acknowledgement of the Ukrainian autocephaly will result in religious split and war in Ukraine. At the same time, he delicately kept silence about the fact of blessing given to the Russian tanks with the Russian soldiers and mercenaries in the Crimea and in the east of Ukraine by representatives of the Russian Church.

Nevertheless, such position of the Russian Patriarch has a common sense. From the beginning of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the increasing number of the Ukrainian Orthodox Christians has no wish to associate themselves with the Moscow Patriarchy of Ukrainian Orthodox Church – branch of the Russian Church in Ukraine, and pass to the control of the Kiev Patriarchy, in fact independent Ukrainian Church. Thereby the Russian government loses another if not the last substantial leverage over internal Ukrainian policy.

Who was appointed guilty of religious split in Ukraine? Well, there are a lot of options, though the Catholic Church is deemed to be the main originator for these processes taking great efforts to separate Ukraine from the womb of Russian Orthodoxy and having imposed their values and beliefs. Good thing, they have confined themselves to outlandish ideas instead of announcing a crusade against the Roman throne.

In fact, the Russian clergy is capable of provocations both in Ukraine and in other states where Orthodoxy is the prevailing religion. In this purpose, they can gain advantage of the Russian security services’ support, which work in close rapport with the Russian Church in addition to their own powers. We may anticipate attacks of the representatives of the Moscow Patriarchy in Ukraine by alleged “Ukrainian nationalists” that will be immediately presented as beginning of religious war by the Russian media. Some other orthodox churches loyal or completely controllable by the Russian Church may declare boycott to decisions of the Constantinople Patriarchy that will result in a true church split.

This makes a very old Moscow’s dream to become the center of global Orthodoxy come true, though restricted to some extent. Antioch, Georgian, Bulgarian and Serbian Churches seem to be the most probable candidates for this “membership club”. There is no single answer to the question about the incentives for their management to resign themselves to Moscow control. Possibly it can be money, compromising evidence or both. Russians are ready for everything in order to avoid creating a new competitor in the face of the Ukrainian Church.

It is ok if they avoid human victims. As practice shows, in order to achieve their purposes Russia, which may be equated to the Russian church, spares no efforts. During next weeks we may see different manifestations of religious madness among the Russian clergy and government officials. Is such problem solution approach reasonable? By all means, no. Though, as stated above, they are not able to solve them in other way…

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We all live in corporate world, this fact is beyond any doubts. It has some specific rules – the success is not just money, but money plus the influence on the people, which bring you some ability to enlarge your profit.

There are different types of corporations. Some of them produce cellphones, some of them produce food, some of them are prominent players in the fashion industry, and some of them produce believe in God. Yes, the religion is just the same commodity as food, electronic devices and the competition here is much harder than any other business faces with.

If we take a look on any religion, it is worth to admit that any religion has its dark sides, especially when we talk about the financial sources. Still the world has been changing and minimalism style has been the new trend. The Pope of Rome chooses bijouterie instead of jewelries, and uses budget sedan instead of special vehicle. His colleague from the Russian Orthodox church, patriarch Kirill, lives just the opposite life. The great number of golden church plates, golden headdresses could be explained by the traditions of Orthodox Church. Nevertheless, there is no explanation for expensive watches, premium-class cars, personal yacht and private jet, it looks like vanity and mercantilism. At the same time, Russian Patriarch never spent money on charity nevertheless his estate is more than 3 billion dollars.

It is his own decision how to spend his money. However, that financial issues insult the Patriarchy and reach international level. We mentioned the term “corporation” for a reason, as it is just what Russian Orthodox Church is now. What is the biggest threat to the business? Right – it is loosing of its assets’ cost and profit of it. The biggest asset of Moscow patriarchy is Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow patriarchy, the branch which is totally controlled by Moscow in Ukrainian territory.

In short, Orthodox Church in Ukraine is divided into two main branches, and the difference between them is just the jurisdiction – the Moscow patriarchy is under direct control of Moscow while Kyiv patriarchy insists on its independence for the last 20 years. Recently, Kyiv patriarchy has got the real chance to become independent, to receive the Thomos (the act of recognition, granted by World patriarch). To tell that Russian reaction was extremely negative means to tell nothing. Their opponents faced with information attacks, threats of religious war coming soon, threats of separation of Orthodox world and other apocalyptic scenarios.

The issue of belief is secondary for Russian Orthodox Church, the main issue is the fear to lose its estates in Ukraine, and therefore to lose the profits. It is quite real. Ukrainian Orthodox church of Moscow patriarchy has got solid losses (the annexation of Crimea, war in Donbas and “green people” did their job well). The number of Ukrainians who want to stay in Russian church decreased. There were lots of facts when people demanded their congregations to be incorporated into Kyiv patriarchy, not in Moscow one. It looks like the returning of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra to Kyiv patriarchy will occur in the near future. That is completely unacceptable for Russian patriarch.

Instead of defending its position in the spheres of theology Russian church started out with threats and blackmailing. We have just mentioned the main theses of Moscow patriarchy, which were formulated in quite brutal manner and were sent to World patriarch Bartolomeus. Those who know Russian patriarch cannot be surprised by that fact. He is used to such methods. Since his teen age, he actively cooperated with KGB, he denounced his classmates and professors to security services. Such activity is the reason for rocketed career of today’s patriarch.

After the breakup of the USSR current patriarch started the schemes of cigarettes import with no customs fees, which gave him opportunity to become monopolist in this business activity. That is why current Moscow patriarch obtained the nickname “tobacco bishop” (his church rank at that time) and got the first capital, which was based on smuggling and illicit activity. Patriarch definitely uses the mask of decency and piety, but he is greedy person who is doing whatever it takes to save and to multiply his money.

That is why we do not need to be astonished with the methods of Russian church, methods of gang members who are trying to monopolize the whole Orthodox Church in the world. If the threats and blackmailing do not work, bribery will be used – you need something more, you have to pay.

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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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In the context of continuing Russia aggression in the east of Ukraine, which proceeds to a chronic stage, events on its western borders remain in a relative shadow. Unfortunately, they are far from being conflict-free! While the eastern neighbor has visited Ukrainian territory on tanks, the Western prefer the soft force, money and manipulating sentiments. Though Hungary’s actions can be hardly referred to as impetuous, declarations and behavior of its officials give no grounds to doubt that western neighbors of Ukraine are always ready to use its internal and external problems.

The latest reason for concern was an appointment of the authorized Hungarian representative in Transcarpathia – the government’s representative who is responsible for development of the Ukrainian territory. The mere title of the position leads to a question whether that is an intervention in internal affairs of the sovereign state and in literal sense a step over the boundaries of peace neighborliness?

Whatever representations Hungarians have made with regard to sincerity of their intentions to develop Transcarpathia region and to support the ethnic Hungarians residing there, little by little Hungary interferes in affairs which by default fall under the scope of the sovereign state’s competence. Thus, the Hungarian parliament made an express stand against education act adopted by Ukraine in support of their language. The document provides for the protection mechanisms of Ukrainian by using it as basic language during school educational process without limitation to ethnic minorities. According to this law, beginning from the 5th form children of ethnic minorities shall study in Ukrainian, and learn their native language as a separate discipline. However, studying some disciplines in languages of EU states is not excluded.

Budapest has not only distorted the very meaning of the Ukrainian Act, having accused Ukraine, but even issued a resolution on this matter. The Hungarian parliament in its decision claimed that the Education Act outlaws all schools, higher education institutions and professional technical institutions which provide education in Hungarian. That is obvious and deliberate distortion of the Act. Also, deputies of the National Assembly of Hungary declare that educational process in languages of minorities becomes impossible though the Education Act provides for teaching several subjects in foreign languages, including Hungarian and Romanian.

The first meeting of Prime Minister Orban’s Government following the elections was marked by the adoption of the Memorandum on the Protection of the Transcarpathian Hungarians. The document was sent to the leaders of all NATO member states and the Secretary General of Alliance. In the memorandum the Hungarian government suggests NATO member states to consider “the problems of ethnic minorities in Ukraine related to the Ukrainian laws”.

To this end, manipulations by Euro-Atlantic aspirations of Ukraine are used as well. For instance, Foreign Minister of Hungary Peter Szijjártó emphasized that Hungary will not support rapprochement of Ukraine with NATO unless Kiev “stops encroachments upon the Hungarian minority”. In support of this statement Budapest proceeded to blocking up organisation of the Ukraine-NATO Commission’s meeting.

What are then the reasons for so strong counteraction of Hungarians to the implementation of such basic right as using of a state language in education by Ukraine?

Primarily, all this actions creates prerequisites for the probable scenario of stirring autonomist intentions in Transcarpathia region. Hungarian officials deny such charges in every possible way, though contribution of the Hungarian nationalists can be traced at the informal level, as long as they call certain regions of Ukraine their territory.

Secondly, at the latest parliamentary elections Hungary’s ‘passport policy’ in Ukraine provided support of ethnic Hungarians to Fidesz party, which expresses more and more Euroskeptical spirits. Modern Hungarian elites, similarly to those in Russia with their “Russian World” project, try to revive previous regional influence of the Austro-Hungarian Empire by means of ethnic Hungarians and pro-Hungarian public organizations, advancing the ideas of Hungarian autonomies within the territory of other states.

Perhaps such similarity of imperial aspirations and purposes allows Hungarians to perceive Russia as such “strategic partner” which can facilitate “restoration of historical justice” for quite insignificant concessions from the Hungarian side, and help Hungarians to reunite or even to return some lands.

If Budapest achieves their purposes and the Ukrainian Education Act will get amendments for their benefit, Transcarpathia in the nearest future will be completely madiarised and will lose language and cultural ties with a maternal part of Ukraine. Such approach perfectly meets the Russian plans for the partition of the Ukrainian lands.

By all means, Moscow encourages the Hungarian expansion to Transcarpathia not for nothing. They have repeatedly used Budapest for pressure upon Kiev. In 2015 after Mr. Orban’s visit to Moscow official Budapest refused to resell the Russian gas to Ukraine. At the same time Mr. Orban makes conciliatory declarations about the conflict in Donbas, levelling Russia’s participation in the armed conflict. Avoiding mentioning sanctions, he on the contrary calls to conciliation with an aggressor in exchange for economic sops, causing disruption of international law and order.

As a result, Ukraine appears between two states which prepare a ground for reconstruction of their ‘great empires’ of previous centuries upon the unspoken consent of the EU leaders. And if one of them makes it in the way of uncovered aggression, then another uses to this end covert and short, though not less decisive steps.

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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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The attempted murder of former officer of Main Intelligence Directorate of Russia in Salisbury, UK, still causes a lot of questions. It is obvious that poisoning attack using military toxic agents, which injured UK citizens, will have long-live consequences for Russia. British officials made accent on the fact it was the first time chemical weapon has been used since World War II and their reaction was tough.

Russia still rejects all the accusations of its involvement in Skripal case. However, undiplomatic reply of Russian Foreign Ministry as well as the refusal to send British government the information about Soviet chemical weapon program “Novichok”, which was used to poison Skripal and his daughter are another evidence of Russian involvement in this case.

Russian intelligence agencies have carried out many operations of assassinations of Putin’s enemies abroad. The investigation of “polonium murder” of former FSB agent A.Litvinenko established that this assault was planned and done after direct Putin’s order. There are some reasonable doubts about the nature of “suicide” of Boris Berezovskiy, who was one of the most influent Putin’s opponents.

It is worth to mention that political assassination in the territory of sovereign countries has become the usual instrument for Russia to get rid of opponents. We have to admit that Russian origin of nerve agent used to kill S. Skripal was absolutely clearly identified according to statements of V. Mirzayanov, one of the authors of “Novichok” and Soviet chemical weapons in general.

The version of Russian media that attempted murder of Skripal was just the provocation against Russia ahead of the Presidential elections or just an attempt to dismiss Russia as host of the 2018 World Cup or the excuse for strengthening sanctions does not stand up to the criticism.

It is highly likely that attempt to kill Skripal had couple of aims. The first one was to show the political opposition in Russia and in other countries that any contradiction with Kremlin will be ended in similar way. The second aim was to show the world community that any strengthening of sanctions against Russia can provoke not only political respond, but also brutal terror attacks against these countries and their citizens.

Putin continues to aggravate international situation, trying to provoke world leaders, and Skripal case attests to this fact. It is high time to use another measures to stop Russian aggression and to prevent another attacks as we could see in Salisbury.

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