The head of "Rossotrudnichestvo", Yevgeny Primakov, publicly admitted that "a well-known African private military company" (PMC) was involved in the opening of "Russian Houses" in Mali and the Central African Republic. This was reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (CPD), UNN reports.
Details
Moreover, according to him, some representatives of this PMC subsequently moved to work directly for the state structure of the Russian Federation.
This statement shatters the myth of the "exclusively cultural" nature of the activities of "Russian Houses". Primakov admits that in practice, "Russian Houses" are not neutral platforms for cultural exchange, but an element of hybrid operations. Thus, Russia effectively admits that it uses military and силові instruments of influence under the guise of humanitarian and educational diplomacy.
The CPD also considers it important that Primakov's statement came after numerous reports of the involvement of PMC representatives in serious human rights violations in Mali and the CAR.
"This once again demonstrates that Moscow's so-called cultural initiatives pose risks to stability and security in various regions of the world," the CPD concludes.
Recall
Last year, the Russian PMC "Wagner" failed in Mali, failing to take control of resources and escalating violence. Relations with the junta are deteriorating, and the Kremlin has not gained access to gold mines.
US imposes sanctions on Russian and Central African companies09.03.24, 01:39