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Russia Hosts Forum on Media While Continuing Anti-Western Rhetoric
Moscow is currently hosting the 5th International Forum “Media and Digital Technologies Facing the Challenge of Information and Historical Falsification,” an event jointly organized by the Russian Foreign Ministry’s magazine “International Affairs” and Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova opened the forum with remarks that followed familiar Kremlin narratives, accusing Western nations of “Nazism” and “Russophobia.” In her address, Zakharova cited Astolphe de Custine’s 1843 work “Russia in 1839,” claiming it helped strengthen anti-Russian sentiment in Europe.
“De Custine writes: ‘I often say to myself: everything here must be destroyed and a new people created. Mothers here should weep over the birth of their children more than over their death,'” Zakharova quoted, before adding her interpretation: “This is the foundation of Nazism — this is where its roots lie. They do not begin or end in the 1930s. They go much deeper, into that very ‘enlightened Europe.'”
The Russian diplomat’s strong reaction to a book published nearly two centuries ago is particularly noteworthy. Shortly after the book’s original publication, the Russian Empire launched a propaganda campaign across Europe aimed at discrediting de Custine’s work. That Zakharova continues to target this literary critique suggests the text remains relevant to understanding Russia’s perception of itself on the world stage.
Observers note the irony in Zakharova’s attempts to rewrite history while speaking at a forum ostensibly dedicated to combating historical falsification. The Russian Empire was often referred to as the “prison of nations” due to its treatment of constituent peoples and territories, a historical characterization the current Russian leadership appears eager to reshape.
Throughout her speech, Zakharova deliberately equated criticism of Russia with Nazism, a rhetorical strategy that has become increasingly common in official Russian discourse. This equivalence serves to position any critique of Russian policies as morally reprehensible and historically linked to fascism.
The spokesperson further positioned Russia as a leader in what she termed an “anti-neocolonial struggle” against Western powers. “Representatives of the ‘golden billion,’ living in what Josep Borrell described as a ‘flowering garden,’ openly intend to use modern technological capabilities, including neural networks, to enslave the surrounding ‘jungle’ – but now in new technological formats,” she claimed.
Analysts suggest this framing serves multiple strategic purposes for the Kremlin. By positioning Russia alongside developing nations fighting against perceived Western dominance, Moscow seeks to build alliances with countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This narrative also aims to justify Russia’s increasing digital isolation and its promotion of alternative technological systems to those developed in Western countries.
The forum comes at a time when Russia continues to face international criticism for its actions in Ukraine and its increasingly authoritarian domestic policies. By focusing on alleged Western “information warfare,” the Kremlin appears to be attempting to deflect attention from these issues while solidifying its narrative both domestically and among potential international allies.
Media experts note that Russia’s concerns about “digital enslavement” likely mask the regime’s own interest in bringing allied states under Moscow’s technological control. By presenting Western digital platforms and technologies as threats to sovereignty, Russia can promote its own technological alternatives while increasing its influence over the information environments in friendly nations.
The forum is expected to continue over several days, featuring Russian officials and media representatives aligned with the government’s position on information security and historical narratives.
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16 Comments
The Kremlin’s attempt to link Nazism to 19th century European attitudes towards Russia is a rather transparent ploy. Twisting literary classics to bolster its nationalist rhetoric is a concerning development.
I’m curious to see how this Russian media forum plays out. Invoking anti-Russian sentiment from the 1800s seems like a rather desperate attempt to discredit Western criticism of the Kremlin’s actions.
The Russian Foreign Ministry’s attempt to reframe historical anti-Russian sentiment as ‘Nazism’ is a rather cynical ploy. Twisting a 19th century travelogue to fit the Kremlin’s nationalist agenda is quite transparent.
It’s troubling to see the Russian state co-opting literary classics to bolster its propaganda. Selectively quoting from de Custine’s work to smear the West is a worrying development.
Interesting how the Kremlin is selectively quoting from classic works to push its propaganda narrative. Seems like a rather heavy-handed attempt to reframe historical anti-Russian sentiment as ‘Nazism’.
I wonder how the Kremlin’s interpretation of de Custine’s work aligns with the author’s original intent and context. These types of selective quotations can be quite misleading.
The Kremlin’s reaction to this 19th century travelogue is quite revealing. Accusing the West of ‘Nazism’ based on a selective reading of a classic work is a rather desperate attempt at historical revisionism.
I’m curious to see how this Russian media forum will address the Kremlin’s use of literature to justify its current nationalist agenda. Distorting the past to serve the present is a concerning trend.
It’s disappointing to see the Russian government co-opting works of literature to push its propaganda. Selectively quoting from a 19th century travelogue to smear the West as ‘Nazi’ is a rather clumsy tactic.
The Kremlin’s interpretation of de Custine’s writings seems like a clear distortion of the original text and context. This is a concerning trend of using the past to justify the present.
The Russian government’s reaction to this 19th century travelogue is rather telling. Accusing the West of ‘Nazism’ based on a 180-year-old book seems like a stretch, even by Kremlin standards.
It’s concerning to see the Russian state using historical works to push its current propaganda agenda. Distorting the past to serve the present is a worrying trend.
The Russian government’s attempt to link Nazism to 19th century European attitudes towards Russia is a rather transparent ploy. Twisting literary classics to bolster its propaganda is a worrying development.
It’s disappointing to see the Kremlin co-opting works of literature to push its nationalist agenda. Selectively quoting from a travelogue to smear the West as ‘Nazi’ is a rather clumsy tactic.
The Kremlin’s interpretation of de Custine’s writings seems like a clear distortion of the original text and context. Using a 19th century travelogue to justify the Kremlin’s current propaganda is quite concerning.
I’m curious to see how this Russian media forum will address the government’s use of literary classics to bolster its nationalist rhetoric. Twisting the past to serve the present is a worrying trend.