Category: Government & Politics

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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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwheTJwDXpI
On Sunday, June 24, 2018, the Iranian people come to the streets of Tehran to protest against the continuing dollar rises over regime’s economic policies during the last months.
The people are chanting “Close your stalls”, “Left Syria- think of us” according to the videos received from Iranian activists on social media.

The price of Iran’s “Bahar Azadi” gold coins has recently surpassed the 30 million rial mark ($6,950), showing a 4 million rial (20 percent) increase in comparison to the week before.
Some economic analyst also believes the increase in the exchange rate and the prices of some goods should be associated to rising inflation in Iran, which is due to the regime’s inefficiency and irregularities in its budget.

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Massive expulsion of more than 150 Russian diplomats-intelligence agents by the European and Western states following poisoning of ex-colonel of the Main Intelligence Directorate Sergey Skripal and his daughter in the British Salisbury is primarily aimed at liquidation of Kremlin’s espionage network established worldwide during Putin’s government.
In solidarity with Great Britain, the government of Spain also expelled two Russian diplomats directly associated with the Russian Centre for Science and Culture in Madrid (“Rossotrudnichestvo”) and other structures of ‘the Russian compatriots’ which are, as we know, a very good shield for intelligence activities.
Recent massive exile of the Russian spies from nearly 30 EU countries, the USA, Canada and some other, certainly, will strike Kremlin intelligence network and their secret foreign operations which gained the scale similar to the Cold War times. The present Putin’s army of spies, similar to a many-headed hydra consists of three main intelligence agencies: Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS), Main Intelligence Directorate (MID) and Federal Security Service (FSS). It’s worth to mention that more than 150 expelled diplomats who were considered to be career officers of Kremlin secret services represent only a part of the huge Russian foreign intelligence machinery. Its another “covert” part involves spies among honourable consulates of Russia, influence agents among local politicians and parliamentarians, journalists – intelligence agents from Russia Today and TASS, as well as diversionists from Rossotrudnichestvo and other Russian government structures applying the policy of “soft force” and financing the so-called “Russian compatriots” (foreign agents), both in the former USSR and in European and American states.
Moscow states about “the Russian compatriots” as the proof of existence of the so-called “Russian world” – that is an area of their influence stretching far beyond the real borders of the Russian Federation. Kremlin seeks to strengthen the influence on domestic and foreign policy of other states, receive important political, economic and military information through interaction and manipulation with such people, and in case of the conflict with the governments of these states – to use “the Russian compatriots” as a “wick” for stirring internal crises and military conflicts.
The Federal Agency for the CIS, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) is the main state agency dealing with “the Russian-language communities” worldwide. It’s a well-known fact that this government agency reporting to the Russian Foreign Ministry and having an extensive network of more than 90 representations (the so-called “Russian centers for science and culture”) in 81 countries has a little to do with cultural and scientific ties of Russia abroad representing a powerful tool of Kremlin propaganda and information influence of strategic level. Rossotrudnichestvo is an active party in foreign policy of Moscow, coordinating activity of the pro-Russian actors abroad and disseminating the Kremlin ideology. Along with this the main objective and the most important side of true activity of this structures staffed at least with those affiliated to the intelligence services of Russia as well as with their permanent officers personally, as a rule are left without saying. It is not a secret that such organizations were widely used for ensuring the legal foreign activity of formerly dreadful KGB, and then of its successors from SVR, GRU and FSB.
Our investigation will throw a light on the activity and structure of the Russian secret espionage network in Spain which, despite recent expulsion of two regular intelligence officers with the diplomatic status from the state successfully continues its function. The matter is that a vast network of pseudo-non-governmental organizations of “the Russian compatriots” (stating themselves to be “charitable”, “scientific” and “cultural” associations, the organizations of “the Spanish-Soviet friendship”, funds of “friends of Russia” etc.) operates in Spain (as well as in other EU states) which is full with Kremlin agents. Their supervisors are official Russian diplomats such as those staff intelligence agents who were recently knocked out from the state. By the way, according to the National Cryptological Center of Spain, in 2017 Russia intervened in Catalan crisis through their activists in media space.
Investigation of the activity of numerous “Russian compatriot” organizations controlled by Madrid office of Rossotrudnichestvo (“the Russian Centre for Science and Culture”) and their point men from the Russian intelligence services within the territory of Spain led us to such ephemeral institution as Blagoe Delo Spanish Benevolent Association. This “benevolent” organization was registered in Madrid in 2014 with the view of collecting “various humanitarian aid for Donbas residents “, and also carrying out of “information and explanatory work” (i.e.pro-Kremlin propaganda) among the Russian-speaking population of Spain.

Blagoe Delo Association was established with financial and ideological support of the Russian extreme left nationalist party the Great Fatherland which belongs to a pool of the pro-Kremlin political forces and works in close cooperation with the Russian secret services. By the way, this party has the office in Spain which is also engaged in propaganda of neo-imperialist ideas of “the Russian world” and “Great Russia”.

One of the founders of Blagoe Delo Association and its point man from the Great Fatherland party is Russian citizen Vitaliy BORKUTA residing in Spain and, most likely, is a career staff employee of the secret services of Russia. Mister BORKUTA is well-known for his far-reaching anti-Spain views. In 2014 Russian TV channel Poznavatelnoe.tv prepared series of propaganda videos (“The life of Spain”, “The Kingdom of Corruption”, “Destruction of Spain”, etc.) by his feature stories about Spain (expressing his prejudiced opinion). The Kingdom is presented in them extremely disparagingly while the Spaniards are shown as “the endangered nation of alcoholics and addicts”. President of Blagoe Delo Association is Roman DEMYAN, member of the Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriot Associations in Spain and along with this, an officer of the Russian intelligence services. DEMYAN regularly visits Moscow for reports making and Donbass conflict zone – for receiving experience of separatist activity. Well, what may be his purposes in Spain in such a case?

Under a specious excuse of “gifts to charity”, and using methods of frank blackmailing and intimidation of Spaniards of the Russian origin, Blagoe Delo Association is engaged de facto in extortion of money as well as money laundering on a large scale. Considerable amount of money are used for financing of the Russian mercenaries in Syria, engaged in war in Syria, Ukraine, Caucasus and other military conflicts and also for financing of the Great Fatherland political party and for personal enrichment of its leaders. Last year a major row arose inside the Great Fatherland party when its leader – Nikolay STARIKOV was accused by colleagues of embezzlement of the considerable funds raised, including, by Blagoe Delo Spanish Benevolent Association for “the charitable purposes for widows of large families of Donbas rebels”. It is particularly remarkable that one of those involved in this scandal was the head and the treasurer of Blagoe Delo Association Roman DEMYAN who was also accused of financial frauds and appropriation of lump sums raised for “humanitarian aid” for families of the Russian mercenaries. It may happen that Mr DEMYAN also partly delivers financial grants received from Rossotrudnichestvo to the Great Fatherland party.

Blagoe Delo Association, being an effective tool of the Russian strategy of “the soft force” in Spain, acts also as an active mouthpiece of Kremlin propaganda. It closely cooperates with the Communist Party of Spain, as well as with Spanish ultra-left and anti-fascist groups. Every year on the eve of 9th May Blagoe Delo Association together with Spanish left-wing radical organizations organizes pro-Russian cultural propaganda campaigns and marches such as “the Immortal Regiment” and “St. George’s Ribbon” under the auspices of the embassy of the Russian federation and Madrid branch of Rossotrudnichestvo. Considering close ties of Blagoe Delo Association with separatist groups in the states of the former Soviet Union, the fact of its “cooperation” with the radical organizations of Catalan separatists which gain full support from Putin’s regime causes special concern. This secret cooperation is organized by Russian citizen Mikhail MEDVEDEV, who illegally reached the territory of Spain, resides in Barcelona and is the head of Russian-Catalan Association for Scientific and Cultural Cooperation as well as a member of the Coordinating Council of the Russian Compatriots in Spain. It may happen that this “cooperation” is directed at the organization of “skill-sharing” of armed struggle for forced separation, and serves as a channel of recruitment and illegal dispatch of Spanish professional soldiers to the areas of armed conflicts which Russia is involved in. Recently law enforcement agencies of Spain have arrested and convicted several dozens of Spanish mercenaries fought for the pro-Russian separatists in Syria and the Caucasus.

Thus, illegal actions of Blagoe Delo Benevolent Association as well as other pseudo-nongovernmental organisations of “the Russian compatriots” undermine social cohesion in the state through consolidation of the pro-Russian forces, defamation of national identity of the Spanish people, and propagation of anti-Western, conservative and orthodox Eurasian values. Being a tool of the Russian “soft force”, they also try to impose an alternative belief system to encumber decision-making, and also act as the destabilizing forces, uniting radical groups and extending aggressive pro-Kremlin propaganda within the Kingdom. Moreover, by financing the Russian mercenaries and by organizing direct Spaniards’ involvement in various armed conflicts, these organizations directly violate the national law of Spain and its state policy of neutrality.

Well, what is country leaders’ response? How long will the leaders of political forces and government institutions tolerate and cover the Russian espionage network? How long will the law enforcement agencies hibernate while Spanish people suffer?

It remains to be seen…

Ángel Sastre, independent journalist, Bilbao

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Human life, their rights and freedoms are the supreme value for all civilized world in the 21st century. Anywhere but in Russia and in the annexed Crimea where people faces a threat of being hurled into prison for their beliefs and a civic stand on far-fetched charges. Statement of charges may vary, though the fact that those dissident in Russia are represented either as saboteurs or as criminals and terrorists remains unchanged. Meanwhile, the Kremlin cynically denies all the facts that prove extreme violations of human rights in Russia.

The Russian authorities do not consider annexation illegal and declare it was historical justness that was restored following the results of the so-called national referendum in the Crimea in 2014 (at the point of a guns of people in military uniform without identification marking). Kremlin also denies the participation in the military conflict in the east of Ukraine. However, the Russian authorities do not even take pains to explain constantly increasing number of citizens of Ukraine and of the Crimean Tatars among political prisoners in the Russian prisons. Today, according to representatives of non-governmental organizations, more than 70 Ukrainian citizens are kept in places of detention in the territory of Russia and in the Crimea. Among them are the following:

– 27 Crimean Tatars who expressed an outrage against annexation of the Crimea. 4 of them were sentenced to 5 – 12 years of imprisonment on a charge of participation in the Islamic organization Hizb Ut-Tahrir forbidden in Russia;

– other 23 Crimean Tatars are waiting for trial being accused of various crimes: of membership in Hizb Ut-Tahrir, of participation in the pro-Ukrainian associations in the Crimea during the pre-annexation period, or are accused of far-fetched charges of ‘blackmailing’ (arrests of the Crimean Tatar activists are going on);

– Vladimir Balukh, the Crimean farmer who ran up the Ukrainian flag over his house after annexation of the Crimea was sentenced to 3,7 years on far-fetched charge of ‘illegal storage of ammunition’;

– Roman Souchtchenko, the Ukrainian journalist, was sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment in maximum security penal colony for alleged ‘espionage’;

– Stanislav Klykh, professor of history, and Mykola Karpiouk, representative of the Ukrainian nationalist movement UNA-UNSO, were arrested in Russia in 2014 and sentenced to 20 and 22,5 years of imprisonment in colony for alleged ‘participation in military operations’ against Russia in Chechnya in the nineties;

– Pavlo Gryb, blogger, the youngest Ukrainian political prisoner (19 years) who was arrested by the Russian security services in 2017 in Belarus and accused of preparation for terrorist attack in Sochi, sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment;

– Oleg Sentsov, stage director and participant of the Revolution of Dignity, is sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment in maximum security penal colony for ‘terrorism’;

– Oleksandre Koltchenko, ecologist, manifested his revolt against Crimea annexation, was arrested together with Sentsov and sentenced as the accomplice to 10 years of imprisonment in colony for ‘terrorism’ (https://www.epochtimes.fr/les-prisonniers-politiques-ukrainiens-detenus-par-la-russie-343007.html).

According Amnesty International’s data, Sentsov and Kolchenko were subjected to tortures and bashing after arrest. Trial against them is very much similar to repressions of Stalin times. According to Soviet dissident’s daughter Zoya Svetova who personally appealed to the President of France Macron to assist in putting an end to political repressions against Sentsov and Kolchenko, she “sees the doctored cases and political prisoners in Russia”. Sad to say, the situation remains unchanged, despite personal addresses to the Russian president of such famous Russian stage directors as Alexandre Sokourov and Andreï Zviaguintsev, as well as representatives of the European cultural society.

On May, 14th, 2018 Oleg Sentsov accused of terrorism and condemned to 20 years of a strict regime colony by the Russian authorities for the public protest against annexation of Crimea has begun his hunger-strike with a unique demand to free all political prisoners kept in Russia. His lawyer Dmitry Dinze is convinced, that Oleg will go to the end. “Together we stand untill the end!”, – these are words from Oleg’s letter. Natalia Kaplan (his cousin) in her interview for The Independent said, “his exact words to us were that if he dies during the World Cup he would be happy for having drawn attention to Ukrainian political prisoners.”

A variety of the international organizations support Oleg Sentsov demanding to free him and political prisoners held in Russia. Representatives of EU member-states, OSCE, PACE, French national centre of cinematography, German national academy, the participants of the Cannes and Berlin film festivals, PEN International, and also known writers, cultural figures, Russian scientists have required to liberate Oleg.

Late in May members of the European film academy sent to the Russian president the open letter demanding for Sentsov’s liberation. It was supported by the creative community of many countries of the world, among them such known people as Pedro Almodóvar, Wim Wenders and Ken Loach, Аki Каurismaki, Mike Lee, Bela Tarr and many others. Recently Open Democracy has published an appeal to leaders of all countries asking to refrain from visiting World Cup-2018 in Russia unless all Ukrainian political prisoners will be released by that time. It was signed by Anne Applebaum, Timothy Snyder and many others.

Despite such hard-line response from the world community, Kremlin states that there are no political prisoners in Russia, justice is independent, so all these people are dangerous criminals and will receive “just punishments”. Such statements demonstrate cynicism of the higher degree as history of each political prisoner is well-known to public, and litigations concerning them drew a wide response. Nevertheless, the Russian power and personally Mr. Putin don’t consider it necessary to react both to opinion of own citizens, and to opinion of the international community.

In the situation, when such people as Oleg Sentsov sacrifices his life to rescue tens of other lives and to draw attention of the world community to reversion of Russia in days of Stalin reprisals, the smallest we can do is to boycott World Cup-2018 and any other international events held by Russia, thus showing resolution and unity in struggle for the higher values – for the HUMAN LIFE!

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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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On Wednesday, May 16, once again, various walks of the people of Kazeroon staged a protest gathering and rallied toward the governorate office of the city in protest at the city’s division plan. The repressive forces are preventing protestors from approaching the governorate office.
Following clashes between the people of Kazeroun and the Iranian regime’s suppressive security forces, hundreds of people have surrounded one of the city’s police stations and are demanding the release of detainees, who had been arrested earlier. Several people have been killed and dozens have been injured after police opened fire on protesters.

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For those who live and work in Iran, the realities of daily living include trying to get paid your meager wages and finding that they being withheld. These periods can last for months and in some cases, over two years have passed and there are still no wages being paid from these companies or even the regime itself.

In light of this reality, teachers, both current and retired, from throughout the country gathered for protests and demonstrations in cities around Iran. Despite the threats of physical violence and arrest, these teachers still spoke out, because they wanted their voices heard, not only for themselves, but also for their students.

The demands of the teachers included living wages and benefits for themselves, but also an educational system that allowed for all Iranian children to be educated without discrimination. Many Iranian children are not able to take advantage of the educational system, because it is not properly funded by the regime, and due to the fact that a large number of children are being lumped into the workforce as child labor. There are no laws against child labor in Iran, despite the fact that the international community has shifted away from child labor in large part.

These demonstrations were met with a physically repressive response from the regime’s security forces, notably the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Hundreds were injured in various cities, and in Tehran, a woman’s eye was torn out from repeated blows to the head.

Iran’s regime fears any type of uprising, so their response is to attempt to repress any who attempt to speak out regarding social issues in Iran, let alone the political ones. The teachers also called for the release of those activists and political prisoners who have been jailed for participating in previous protests and demonstrations.

However, the teachers themselves are not alone in their protests against the regime and its policies. Various industries, from oil and gas to agricultural, have all participated in protests and demonstrations throughout Iran. During December and January, the protests grew to an unprecedented scale, sending shock waves through the regime as they attempted to repress these efforts of the Iranian people to speak out. While there is some organizational effort being done by the Iranian resistance inside Iran, namely the PMOI/MEK, the large numbers at these gatherings speaks to the fact that the issues inside Iran are not limited to political beliefs alone.

In fact, the way that the regime rules Iran is tearing at the social and cultural fabric of the Iranian people. If the recent round of protests is any indication, the Iranian people may be reaching their breaking point with this regime.

The teachers who were speaking out are just one group calling for change, but they are part of a larger swell of calls for change. The regime and its mullahs seem unwilling or unable to adapt to the changing needs of their people and are unwilling to be good stewards to the resources of the country.

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