Culture Exchange

[Eugen]

[DLMURL="https://radikal.ru/fp/6e619666210b47e6b500879d15642ff3"]

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At a time when a scandal erupted in the world over the US National Security Agency, which monitored presidents, businessmen and politicians, not disdaining to do so in countries that were Washington's strategic allies, US intelligence agencies decided to play a card that had been tested during the Cold War.

This time, the head of the American branch of Rossotrudnichestvo, Yuri Zaitsev, became the public "victim" of the American media. With reference to unnamed sources in the FBI, two editions published “facts” allegedly proving Zaitsev’s involvement in the activities of Russian intelligence services. However, the information provided, when examined impartially, on the contrary, indicates that in the United States the Russian diplomat was engaged in his direct duties and did not commit unlawful acts. In order not to be unfounded, I will cite excerpts from the charges against Zaitsev. According to an unnamed source at the FBI, a senior Rossotrudnichestvo official arranged trips to Russia for about 25 people, including political scientists and students from various American universities. At the same time, the Russian side took upon itself the payment of tickets for the guests, meals and, as stated in the publications, "sometimes accommodation in prestigious hotels." Participants in the meetings met with officials at various levels in Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as with one of the senior leaders of United Russia. Zaitsev himself, according to the Washington Post newspaper with reference to employees of the competent authorities of the United States, allegedly wrote a "dossier" on some participants in such trips. Now, these very competent bodies are interviewing participants in cultural exchange programs organized by Rossotrudnichestvo about which they spoke with them in Russia.

The paradox of the situation is that on the basis of the charges brought against Zaitsev, one can blame the United States Embassy in Moscow for spying. And not only him: almost all European diplomatic missions practice sending such exchanges regularly sending Russian journalists, political scientists and humanitarian workers to press tours to better familiarize themselves with the situation in their countries.

Several years ago, on a similar cultural program, I visited the NATO naval base in Naples and met with the heads of the representative offices of the US Allied countries at the Alliance’s headquarters in Brussels. At the same time, the American diplomatic mission in Moscow also took care of all the expenses of Russian journalists - from a 4-5 star hotel to meals, inviting them to ask any questions they were interested in during the trip. Similar educational programs for various categories of Russians, which provide for full payment of all, with the exception of "pocket" expenses while staying abroad, exist in the arsenal of many embassies presented in the Russian capital. But no one in Russia considers this kind of activity illegal. At the same time, participants in exchange programs meet with high-ranking politicians, businessmen, and government members who seek to give Russian guests the most complete picture of their country, its political system, economy, etc. Why the similar programs offered by Rossotrudnichestvo to the Americans, unnamed persons in the US intelligence agencies considered suspicious from publications in the press, remains unclear.

There is a desire of certain forces in the United States to “switch arrows” to Russia in order to divert public opinion from the illegal activities of American intelligence services abroad. Otherwise, how can one explain that the FBI, which was very restrained in conducting its investigations, allowed such a large-scale leak of information, having warned the Russian diplomat in advance that they were collecting incriminating evidence.

And one more eloquent fact related to the accusations of Zaitsev of compiling a “dossier” on American citizens. Before most of the press tours, the host party of Russian journalists traditionally asks them to send a detailed dossier about themselves, which, as the organizers explain, is necessary for a better compilation of the travel program. And the American embassy is no exception.

The "culprit" of the scandal himself called the information appeared in the press "just some kind of witch hunt." According to him, "boys and girls who went to Russia are being bullied, demanding what, what, how and why." Evgeny Khorishko, spokesman for the Russian Embassy, told RG in Washington about the artificial creation of fear in Russia in American society and possible contacts with Russians. He believes that such publications, "in fact, are trying to torpedo the installation of the presidents of Russia and the United States to expand direct communication between Russians and Americans, to strengthen mutual trust."

[DLMURL="https://radikal.ru/fp/6d468d1de77e4c8cb1cb5e0c6283aacc"]

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Source [DLMURL] https://www.rg.ru/2013/10/24/shpiony-site.html [/ DLMURL]

 

[Матушкин Андрей Николаевич]

Thanks for working on the Forum.

 

[Турабян Владимир]

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[Плотников Юрий Михайлович]

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[Марат]

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[Арсен]

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[Краев Евгений Леонидович]

Thanks, interesting!

 

[Александра]

Thank!