PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

International dialogue in modern conditions

UP UNTIL RECENTLY, IT WAS A COMMON BELIEF THAT INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ARE THE STATE PREROGATIVE, AND INTERNATIONAL INTERACTION WAS LARGELY REDUCED TO DIPLOMACY, WHICH WAS REPRESENTED BY PROFESSIONAL AND HIGHLY COMPETENT NATIONAL BUREAUCRACIES BOTH IN BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL DIALOGUE AT THE LEVEL OF INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

President of the Civic Chamber of Russia Lydia Mikheeva and Secretary General of the International Association of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions (AICESIS) Apostolos Xirafis at the Board meeting of the organization. June 28, 2022. Press Service of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation

Gradually, given the expanded role of civil society, the development of horizontal ties and the formation of network social structures, the number of contacts increased, which was largely caused by various aspects of globalization and digitalization. That enabled nonprofit organizations and public associations to fill their own niche in international relations, which traditional diplomacy, in many respects condescendingly, would call “second track diplomacy”.

The beginning of the acute phase of the conflict in Donbass marked a cardinal change in international relations that took place over the past decades in an implicit format. It was the willingness and quick response of Western countries to the introduction of a range of sanctions and restrictions against Russia, as well as condemnation of our country’s actions, which decided to protect its national interests that surfaced serious contradictions between Russia and Western states.

This crisis has affected almost every Russian citizen, Russian compatriots residing abroad, as well as foreign partners and friends of Russia, who have felt unprecedented pressure to stop any kind of interaction with our country. Foreign business began to leave Russia en masse, scientific and university ties wound up getting banned, Russian performers began to be denied tours abroad, and Russian athletes were banned from international competitions. Given the complicated international situation around Russian sports, in 2022, Russian sports public organizations like the National Rhythmic Gymnastics League, water sports organizations, held international competitions with broad participation of foreign athletes in Russia. Given the transport and visa restrictions imposed on Russian citizens, tourist and business trips of Russians have been hampered. The Russians suddenly found themselves in a different reality, an atmosphere of hostility, distrust and suspicion, and felt the need to rebuild their relations with rest of the world, to look for new partners in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to offset the hampered relations with the Europeans colleagues.

Participants of the “Brother for Brother” action in Belgrade. A parade dedicated to the protection of traditional values took place in Belgrade. Tens of thousands of residents took to the streets to show solidarity with Russia, where the “Brother for Brother” action was held in Moscow. August 28, 2022. Aleksandar Djorovic / RIA Novosti

Despite the conditions of an overall decline in relations, some representatives of civil society in Western countries found it possible to continue dialogue and cooperation at least the personal level. As for the rest of the world, relations at the level of civil society institutions, public associations, professional communities were not suspended and in some areas were even reinforced.

In September 2022, Russia embraced the Concept of the “Humanitarian Policy of the Russian Federation Abroad”, which puts specific efforts on the development of human capital, the strengthening of international relations in culture, science, education, sports, tourism, as well as promoting traditional Russian spiritual and moral values, expanding Russian language and Russian culture abroad, preserving historical and cultural heritage, support for compatriots living abroad, and establishment of intercultural and interreligious dialogue.

In its work in the international area, the Civic Chamber rests upon the pillars of the Humanitarian Policy Concept and demonstrates the opportunities for successful partnership with civil society institutions and nonprofit bodies in foreign countries and the implementation of joint projects.

2022 has become one of the most challenging for Russia over the past decade in international cooperation. Many interstate and economic relations have undergone a significant transformation, cultural, sports, and scientific ties with a number of countries have been interrupted. At the same time, many unprecedented events occurring around Russia, coupled with the related challenges that arose within this environment, contributed to the consolidation of citizens, the intensification of joint efforts of the state and society in various areas such as public diplomacy.

International organizations and civil society institutions — interaction amid global transformation

AS PART OF ITS INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES DURING THE YEAR, THE CIVIC CHAMBER FACED BIASED DECISIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE STRUCTURES OF LEADING INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. RUSSIAN SOCIAL ACTIVISTS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE REGULAR FORMATS OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE) IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS DIMENSION TWICE, WHICH ARE TRADITIONALLY A PLATFORM FOR A NONPOLITICIZED DIALOGUE OF ALL INTERESTED PARTIES. MEMBERS OF THE CIVIC CHAMBER WERE ALSO DENIED PARTICIPATION AS SPEAKERS IN THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH ORGANIZED BY UNESCO, AND IN EXPERT PANELS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE UN INTERNET GOVERNANCE FORUM.

On the other hand, the testimonies of representatives of Russian civil society were in demand on the high rostrum of the UN Security Council, where a report on the causes of the Ukrainian crisis was presented at a meeting as per the Arria formula, as well as at a conference of representatives of the third sector sponsored by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

An indicative and successful example of public diplomacy was one of the key tracks of the international activities of the Civic Chamber in 2022 – interaction through the International Association of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions (AICESIS).

In October 2021, the Civic Chamber was elected presiding body of this organization, which brings together organized civil society institutions from 75 countries. The topic of the two-year chairmanship of the Civic Chamber in the Association is “Living in the Online Age: Looming Challenges and Urge for solutions”.

Following the start of a special military operation, despite the nonpoliticized format of interaction as part of the AICESIS, 12 councils from the European Union suspended their membership in the Association for the period until the meeting of the AICESIS General Assembly at the initiative of the French side, which was scheduled for June.²³²

During the meeting of the AICESIS General Assembly hosted by Athens in June 2022, the economic and social councils of Spain, France, Portugal and Ukraine, expressing their desire to remove

Laying wreaths and flowers at the Liberator Warrior memorial to the fallen Soviet soldiers in Berlin’s Treptow Park commemorating the 77th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War. May 9, 2022. AP / TASS

the Civic Chamber from presiding at the Association, but having failed to find any legal grounds to do it, called on the Civic Chamber to voluntarily resign from the presidency. This initiative did not find support among the Association members, who advocated the continuation of a comprehensive dialogue within AICESIS. It was decided through the course of the meeting that the time the next AICESIS General Assembly will be held in October 2023 in Moscow.

The Civic Chamber continues to fulfill the presiding body’s agenda, staying alert that not all AICESIS partners are willing to continue cooperation in the spirit of mutual respect and the implementation of a practical agenda on social issues. Throughout 2022, as part of the presidency at the Association, the Civic Chamber has elaborated on a new draft of the AICESIS Articles and successfully carried through a number of scheduled events.

In particular, while presiding at the AICESIS, the Civic Chamber delegation took part in the General Assembly of the Union of Economic and Social Councils of Africa (UCESA) held in October 2022 in Rabat, Morocco. On the sidelines of the General Assembly, the Russian delegation held bilateral meetings with their counterparts from Benin, Cameroon, Madagascar, Senegal, Central African Republic, Chad and South Africa in their aim to establish international relations to further consolidate the public institutions of Russia and the countries of the African continent.

Amid the global geopolitical changes, international cooperation through religious organizations play a special role. Representatives of world religions are significant actors in the intercivilizational dialogue, having a huge potential, associated primarily with trusting relationships between fellow believers from different states.

As a result, the religious factor can effectively eliminate unwelcoming trends in international relations through influencing political, socioeconomic, and humanitarian processes. The high role of religious organizations in the international dialogue was supported by the participation of the Civic Chamber members in the meeting of religious leaders in Indonesia as part of the G20 in November 2022 with a speech on the role of religions in peacemaking and the fight against the eradication of Islamophobia and religious phobias.

The agenda further includes the intensified the work of representatives of Russian religious institutions in various formats through the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the expansion and reinforced cooperation between Buddhist organizations in Russia and Asian countries, in particular as part of the ongoing Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace.

Another area of public diplomacy and a wide field for interstate cooperation at the level of civil society in the past year was the election and referendum observation. With ten-year track record in arranging public monitoring of electoral processes in Russia and abroad, in 2022 the Civic Chamber, supported by the Russian Foreign Ministry, initiated the dispatch of its own observation missions to those countries where local legislation provides for that. Election observation in foreign countries aims to ensure the transparency and legal state of the electoral process. In addition, international observation missions provide for experience exchange and best practices in law enforcement in election control.

International observation of elections abroad is carried through in the format dispatching observation missions of the Civic Chamber. Mission members receiving the status of international observers. Given the footprint of observation missions, the Civic Chamber members have accumulated extensive experience and rich evaluation in electoral practices and technologies.

Members of the Civic Chamber of Russia as part of the observation mission of the Civic Chamber attending the parliamentary elections in Nepal. Kathmandu, November 19, 2022. Press Service of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation

In 2022, observation missions of the Civic Chamber worked at elections of different types in Abkhazia, Serbia, South Ossetia, Lebanon, the Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Kenya, Angola, Nepal, and Tunisia.

As part of the observation missions, meetings were held with local officials, representatives of authorities and the election commissions, political organizations and parties, civil society, parliamentarians, and experts.

For Russia, which ranks first in the world in the length of its borders and the number of bordering countries, cross-border cooperation with foreign states appears of major importance.

In 2020, the Russian authorities approved the Concept of Cross-Border Cooperation in the Russian Federation,²³³ which general background states that cross-border cooperation is aimed at establishing and developing a comprehensive dialogue between the subjects of cross-border cooperation between the Russian Federation and its neighbors.²³⁴

Cross-border cooperation being expanded successfully both at the state level and at the level of urban and rural communities, regional, municipal and territorial entities, became significantly more complicated in 2022, and somewhere was stopped altogether. This problem was discussed during a number of thematic discussions initiated by the Civic Chamber, including the “Community” forums.

Traditionally, the priority area of cooperation for Russia is to enhance ties with the post-Soviet countries’ counterparts. Close working relationship with the Civil Alliance of Kazakhstan, establishing contacts with NPOs of Uzbekistan, meetings with representatives of civil society in Lithuania, the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR), the establishment of a Coordination Council to reinforce Russian-Belarusian friendship are the results of the work of the past year supported by the Civic Chamber.

OBSERVATION MISSIONS OF THE CIVIC CHAMBER ABROAD

MARCH 12 AND 26, 2022
ABKHAZIA

Parliamentary elections (first-round observation)

APRIL 3 2022,
SERBIA

General election

APRIL 10 AND MAY 8, 2022
SOUTH OSSETIA

Presidential elections

MAY 15, 2022
LEBANON

Parliamentary elections

JULY 10, 2022
REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

Parliamentary and municipal elections

JULY 31, 2022
SENEGAL

Parliamentary elections

AUGUST 9, 2022
KENYA

General election

AUGUST 24, 2022
ANGOLA

General election

NOVEMBER 20, 2022
NEPAL

Parliamentary elections

DECEMBER 17, 2022
TUNISIA

Parliamentary elections

Stepping up work with Russian compatriots abroad

AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE FOREIGN POLICY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IS THE EVER-INCREASING ATTENTION TO FELLOW COUNTRYMEN ABROAD. ONLY ACCORDING TO THE UN ESTIMATES IN 2021, MORE THAN 11 MILLION FELLOW CITIZENS LIVE OUTSIDE THE BORDERS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION, ACCORDING TO OTHER EXPERT ESTIMATES, THEIR NUMBER EXCEEDS 25 MILLION.²³⁵ THE EVENTS OF 2022 CONVINCINGLY SHOWED THAT PROTECTING THE RIGHTS AND LEGITIMATE INTERESTS OF FELLOW COUNTRYMEN IS ONE OF THE ESSENTIAL FACTORS IN ENSURING THE NATIONAL INTERESTS OF RUSSIA AND REQUIRES THE CONSOLIDATION OF TARGETED EFFORTS OF STATE AUTHORITIES AND CIVIL SOCIETY INSTITUTIONS.²³⁶

As per the tasks set by the Russian President, who has repeatedly raised the topic of expanding and enhancing Russia’s interaction with compatriots in messages to the Federal Assembly, a lot of work has been done in recent years to develop legislation and strengthen ties with foreign compatriots, public organizations and associations that they set up in their countries of residence. Civil society institutions and Russian NPOs were actively involved in this work.

This work concerned the expansion and support of cooperation, the implementation of cultural and humanitarian projects, and also tackled a wide range of problematic issues, including such topics as ensuring security, equal rights with citizens of host countries to get involved in public and political life, issues of expanding access to education and the implementation of labor activity, ensuring the right to preserve identity and communicate in their native language, study historical and cultural heritage, and much more.

The past years have shown that without the direct assistance extended by the state and civil society institutions, it would be very difficult for compatriots to defend their rights in a number of situations.

To expand fellow countrymen support, in March 2022, a draft law was submitted to the State Duma of Russia to recognize all those speaking Russian as fellow countrymen.²³⁷ The draft law proposes a new version of the “fellow countryman” definition. Based on that, persons who speak Russian as the state language of the Russian Federation and belong to the peoples historically living on Russian territory, and those whose direct ancestors were born or lived on the country’s territory are recognized as fellow countrymen. The explanatory note to the draft law notes that the clarification of the “fellow countryman” concept in the new version of the law will enable it to be used in exercising the rights of fellow countrymen provided for by the relevant federal laws²³⁸ in accordance with part 3 of article 69 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation.²³⁹

The activities of Russian fellow countrymen to promote Russian culture – the creation of schools and circles for children, Russian language courses, cultural centers, ballet schools, newspapers – are unifying for people coming from all countries of the former Soviet Union, as well as for the local population wishing to learn more about Russia. However, with the start of the special military operation, the range of opportunities for such projects to be implemented, especially in European countries, has been largely reduced. In a number of cases, Russian fellow countrymen began to face direct insults and discrimination amid the inaction of local authorities.

To this end, in June 2022, the Association of Lawyers of Russia and the Synergy Corporation, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, created the digital platform ‘pravanashih.com’ as part of the international humanitarian project “For the Rights of Compatriots”, which became a one-stop platform for citizens to apply and allowed our compatriots to receive all the necessary information on legal protection and assistance in legal matters, as well as psychological support.

A branch of the Primakov Gymnasium in Abu Dhabi. This is the first school in the UAE that provides education in Russian in accordance with the federal state educational standards of Russia. November 4, 2022. RIA Novosti

For its part, the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation also strengthened its efforts by arranging face-to-face meetings with fellow countrymen living in the Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Greece, Lebanon, Nepal, Tunisia, and online conferences with members of the Coordination Councils of organizations of Russian compatriots around the world, together with the Foundation for the Support and Protection of the Rights of Compatriots. During the meetings, the members of the Civic Chamber delivered information on countering the “cancel culture”, initiatives and draft laws being discussed in Russia and related to the protection of the rights of fellow countrymen, on Russian resources created to help and support compatriots abroad, on the rules for applying to the Presidential Grants Foundation and Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives for implementing projects to develop and reinforce international cooperation in the humanitarian and cultural spheres.

One of the outcomes resulting from the discussions was the launch in March 2022 of the Civic Chamber’s in-house hotline that can be used by fellow countrymen to report all facts of harassment related to their nationality, language, or political views.²⁴⁰