Satan rules there PR: the Federation Council discussed the information war with the West

“The enemy wanted to feast, but had to grieve.” If the task was to reflect the results of the “round table” held by the Federation Council Commission on Information Policy and Interaction with the Media in a few words, then more suitable words would not be found. The topic of the discussion, let’s clarify: “Information confrontation in the context of growing geopolitical tensions with the West. Results and conclusions.

The Federation Council discussed the information war

with the West

“The enemy wanted to feast, but had to grieve.” If the task was to reflect the results of the “round table” held by the Federation Council Commission on Information Policy and Interaction with the Media in a few words, then more suitable words would not be found. The topic of the discussion, let’s clarify: “Information confrontation in the context of growing geopolitical tensions with the West. Results and conclusions.

Aleksey Pushkov, chairman of the commission, spoke about the state of affairs on the fronts of geopolitical confrontation in his opening speech. According to the senator, changes are taking place everywhere on the fronts, and almost everywhere – in our favor. The result of the efforts expended by our geopolitical opponents turned out to be either opposite to their goals, or at least did not correspond to the tasks that were set. “Russia has managed to counter quite convincing counterarguments — both in the sphere of economy, and in the sphere of politics, and in the sphere of information,” Pushkov said.

As for the economy, for example, “a reversal from the dollar has begun – instead of strengthening the dollar, they are weakening the dollar.” The sanctions did not destroy the Russian economy, but “led to a redistribution of geo-economic ties.” But especially great successes have been achieved on the information battlefield.

“There has been an increase in sympathy for Russia in the non-Western world,” the senator believes. – And very noticeable. Russia is perceived as a country that, with a gross domestic product of $2.2 trillion, is fighting a united West, that is, the United States, which has a $26 trillion economy, and the European Union, which has a $17 trillion economy.

In non-Western countries, according to Pushkov, they are surprised and delighted with how “Russia stands in opposition to the dominant force that did not act in the interests of the developing world.”

There is, however, a fly in the ointment in the victory report: while in the world as a whole sympathy for Russia and its policies is growing, in its immediate environment, in the former republics of the Soviet Union, the situation, according to Pushkov, “is evolving steadily in a pro-Western direction. “.

And the subsequent speech by Valentina Komleva, deputy director of the National Research Institute for the Development of Communications, confirmed this idea. The deputy director of the institute spoke about the results of a study conducted by the institute on the “communication friendliness” of the post-Soviet states towards Russia. “In the group of friendly communications, so-called wavering regimes have been identified,” Komleva said. – First of all, these are Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Fluctuations are strongly connected with those geopolitical attractors between which they are currently maneuvering… These are fluctuations in relation to the Russian language, Russian media, local Russian-language media, political-historical memory and ideals.”

The expert’s speech did not contain – and, probably, should not have contained – any political conclusions, answers to the questions “who is to blame” and “what to do.” But Konstantin Zatulin, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Fellow Countrymen, spoke next, and answered both of them at once: “I came to an opinion a long time ago, and I consider it important: the elites of the newly independent states are generally quite hostile to Russia, because they see it as a competitor. Our task, by and large, should have been to replace these elites. What would have to be done in order not to lead to what happened to Ukraine.” The respected deputy, however, did not explain how it is proposed to change the elites of neighboring states.

But, of course, the director of the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Irina Abramova, took the highest note in the discussion: “Recently, quite by accident, I was reading the Gospel, and here is such a wonderful quote – this is Christ referring to the Pharisees and scribes … He said: “You belong to your father the devil and want to fulfill your father’s wishes… When he lies, he does what is natural to him. Because he is a liar and the father of lies.” The West initially stands on the side of lies, and we need to talk about it. Especially considering that African countries are quite religious. We need to promote this thesis in every possible way.”

The thesis – likening Russia to Christ, and the West to Satan – is undoubtedly magnificent. It is even a pity that a significant part of the population of the continent professes Islam.

Published in the newspaper “Moskovsky Komsomolets” No. 29011 dated April 14, 2023

Newspaper headline:
Satan rules there PR