Support The Moscow Times!

Foreigners View Russia as 'Unpredictable,' Overseas Cooperation Head Says

A demonstration in Tbilisi, Georgia. The sign says "Imperial Appetites."

Foreigners perceive Russia as "unpredictable and aggressive" and it will take Moscow years to improve that image, the head of a state agency for overseas cooperation has said.

The head of Rossotrudnichestvo, Konstantin Kosachyov, whose agency was established in part to improve Russia's image abroad, offered no criticism of Russia's intervention in Ukraine or its recent anti-gay laws in an interview with Vedomosti published Thursday.

He did, however, acknowledge that Moscow's foreign and domestic policies have played a role in the negative perception of the country by foreigners.

"We truly have not been intimidated by the common majority opinion in recent years, when we consider ourselves to be right," Kosachyov said.

Some people also perceive Russia as the "second edition of the Soviet Union" and are convinced that it is "by definition, unpredictable and aggressive," he said.

Kosachyov said Russia should begin work on improving its image immediately, though he did not specify what this work might entail.

"If we have not paid sufficient attention to this work during the last two decades, then improving the unjust attitudes toward Russia will also take years," he said.

Following the dispatch of Russian troops to Crimea, a poll conducted by NBC News and The Wall Street Journal showed that 72 percent of Americans view Russia as an adversary rather than an ally.

Only 5 percent of Americans have a positive view of Russian President Vladimir Putin, while 63 percent view him negatively, the poll results released on Wednesday showed.

The poll, conducted on March 5-9 gave a margin of error of 3.1 percent.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more