Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev took part in the round table.
First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Sergei Kislyak held a round table, US Efforts to Prevent Civil Society Dialogue between Russia and the USA: Is Change Possible? The discussion was attended by Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev, members of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, representatives of federal executive authorities, and experts.
In his opening remarks, Sergei Kislyak noted that the hybrid war that the West is fighting against Russia also includes methods to counter dialogue between civil society and non-governmental organisations.
“Our country has always supported honest, wide-ranging dialogue through non-governmental organisations, aimed primarily at promoting mutual understanding. We regarded such dialogue as a normal thing, foreign NGOs operating in Russia followed Russian laws and did not interfere with our internal affairs,” the Senator said.
He emphasised that the authorities of the United States and other Western countries do not extend the same treatment to Russian non-governmental organisations that are included in the sanctions lists, or citizens who advocate for dialogue.
“In the name of fighting Russian propaganda, the United States is systematically countering initiatives aimed at fostering dialogue with Russia. Essentially, this is the return of the era of witch hunts, systematically targeting Russian NGOs, Russian citizens and our compatriots participating in what is often called ‘public diplomacy’. This US policy towards Russian civil society is a sign not only of extreme Russophobia, but also of weakness,” Sergei Kislyak said. The Senator drew attention to the fact that the United States flagrantly violates generally accepted humanitarian principles of cooperation by persecuting those who were involved in fostering dialogue between Russian and US civil societies.
Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev shared with the round table participants his personal experience of participating in dialogue mechanisms and working with NGOs, and also gave an analysis of the current state of affairs in this area.
According to Konstantin Kosachev, since 2014, Russian NGOs have faced systemic opposition from the US authorities.
“For Americans, who are now under the powerful influence of anti-Russian media propaganda, actually coming to Russia today can change their view of things,” the Senator said.
He stressed that the US authorities try to use Russian participation in dialogue for their own purposes, while obstructing their own social activists. According to Konstantin Kosachev, students of various Western introductory and educational programmes may become the main group for external negative influence in the near future.
He proposed developing a kind of “roadmap” of what needs to be done to turn the situation around.
“Despite the open opposition of the United States, Russia should continue sponsoring programmes through NGOs and invite not only like-minded people and our allies, but also young people from unfriendly countries to join them. Young people should be freed from stereotypes about Russia. It is necessary to develop a set of specific measures to protect the rights and interests of those who run such programmes in Russia. Protection must be systematic. Finally, there should be significantly more public information about what strategy the United States and its allies are now pursuing in relation to our citizens who were participants and graduates of US cultural and educational programmes,” said Konstantin Kosachev.
The round table participants spoke about the US persecution of Russian NGOs and Russian citizens, and also discussed possible mechanisms to counter and prevent aggressive US policy towards Russian civil society and provide it with protection and support.