CEO of Russia Today. TV channel RUSSIA TODAY

18.07.2019

RT channel editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan believes that the “mainstream media” are lying about Russia, damaging its reputation, but at the same time accusing Moscow of propaganda. In her interview with NPR, Simonyan talked about who she communicates with over a secure phone line, how she met Vladimir Putin, and why Russians love their president.

The French President accused the Russian state TV channelRT that he is spreading “false propaganda.” David Green interviewed the editor-in-chiefRT Margarita Simonyan.

STEVE INSKEEP, host: My colleague David Greene is currently collecting materials regarding Russia's attempts to influence the course of the elections in Western countries and is on a business trip in Moscow. Now he is contacting us. David, who did you manage to talk to?

DAVID GREEN, host:Today my interlocutor is Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of the TV channelRT. This is an information channel on English language, which is known to be funded by the Russian government and is widely considered a propaganda machine.

Recently, French President Emmanuel Macron criticized RT. He said RT was spreading false propaganda to help his opponent, far-right leader Marine Le Pen. Margarita Simonyan is thinking about suing Macron for libel. According to her, RT is simply trying to counter what Simonyan calls “mainstream media.”

MARGARITA SIMONYAN, editor-in-chief of the TV channelRT: The French mainstream media went out of their way to encourage people to vote for Macron. I can give you hundreds of examples. But for some reason no one calls them propaganda. And they call us.

Thus, the function of RT, according to Simonyan, is to resist the mainstream. She believes that the mainstream media misrepresents Russia and that this needs to be addressed. And some even say that she receives orders directly from the Kremlin.

Let me touch on another topic that your critics often bring up. They say that you have a direct line in your office with a person who works for Vladimir Putin, and that on this phone you discuss issues of editorial policy. Do you really have such a phone in your office?

MARGARITA SIMONYAN: Yes, you see this phone, and I use it when I need to discuss something over a secure line.

That is, this is the same secure line for communication with the Kremlin.

MARGARITA SIMONYAN: Today, for example, I spoke on this line with the Central Bank. I needed to discuss some financial matters that were best not discussed on an open line.

Do you talk to people who work for Putin on this line?

MARGARITA SIMONYAN:(Laughs.) You see, you don’t want to listen to the answer!

MARGARITA SIMONYAN: No, you don't want to. You want to receive from me a ready-made phrase that you can use in your program. I am also a journalist, I understand this. In fact, everyone who works in Russian government and in the presidential administration, to one degree or another they work for Vladimir Putin. And yes, I communicate on this phone with a variety of people.

Okay, let me phrase the question differently. Do you discuss issues of editorial policy or any specific topics with those close to Vladimir Putin?

MARGARITA SIMONYAN: We never discuss issues of editorial policy with people close to Vladimir Putin, unless you consider me myself a person close to Vladimir Putin. In fact, many people think so.

Do you think so yourself too?

MARGARITA SIMONYAN: Me not.

Do you have any personal relationship with him? Maybe you are friends with him?

MARGARITA SIMONYAN:(Laughs.) No, we're not friends. Do we know each other. I met him when I was 20-21 years old. Just as you have a certain pool of journalists in the White House, we have our own Kremlin pool. And I used to work as a correspondent in the Kremlin pool. Therefore, we could, for example, say hello when we met. But I can’t, say, call him, if that’s what you’re asking.

Do you have any opinion about him as president and about the policies that he pursues?

MARGARITA SIMONYAN:I have a million opinions about him as president and about the policies he pursues. Here it is important to understand why Russians like Putin so much - and this is precisely what the West and the mainstream media, it seems to me, do not understand. But they don’t understand this because they didn’t live here in the 90s.

In my hometown at that time, among my acquaintances there was probably not a single person who would like to stay in Russia. Can you imagine? All my friends wanted to leave because we considered our country to be something terrible. It seemed to us that the country was falling apart and that everything would only get worse. The country was at war. With the arrival of Putin, this ended. We have seen all this in the example own life. The people around us, our family, our acquaintances, for starters, stopped starving. Then my sister and I stopped having only one pair of shoes between us. That is, you see, me, my sister and also my mother - the three of us had one pair of normal shoes, and we wore them in turns.(Laughs.) So, it stopped. It was like a fairy tale.

You know, you are now telling how your life has improved...

MARGARITA SIMONYAN: Not only mine! All our friends also began to live better. I want to especially emphasize this. It will be very difficult to find at least one person who, under Putin, began to live worse than he lived before Putin.

You know, I was just thinking about the United States. The best pages in the history of American journalism are when journalists went against the authorities and conducted some kind of investigation. For example, during the scandal with Bill Clinton. Or, for example, in the situation with the resignation of Richard Nixon. Now, if there was some kind of investigation of this kind going on now, which could potentially lead to the resignation of Vladimir Putin, would you carry out such an investigation to the end?

MARGARITA SIMONYAN:If I saw and was sure that Putin’s actions are harming my country and my people and this needs to be stopped, I would do it without any hesitation.

I think you yourself understand that both you personally and the RT channel outside your country are perceived somewhat differently.

MARGARITA SIMONYAN: Understand. But what can you do if the mainstream media constantly, over and over again, lies about us? This is how the image came about. Why are they doing that? I don't know. You can explain to me why.

Thank you for talking.

MARGARITA SIMONYAN: Thank you.

source NPR USA North America tags

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At 32 she became a journalist for the presidential pool, and at 35 she became editor-in-chief channel Russia Today. Today she is not just a multimedia person, but also the author of literary collections and a book about the 90s - “To Moscow”, and published excerpts from the work “Train”, along with culinary recipes, in the periodical “Russian Pioneer”.

Biography

Margarita Simonovna was born into the family of a refrigerator repairman and a flower saleswoman in Krasnodar on April 6, 1980. Until the age of 10, the girl lived with her sister and parents in difficult conditions - Soviet period unemployment and empty shelves, and the house had absolutely no amenities. When she was ten, the family received new housing.

The girl quickly mastered literacy and, even in kindergarten, gathered an audience of same-year-olds around her - reading fairy tales. Margarita was sent to school No. 36 (with in-depth study foreign languages). The bright student brought home only straight A's. At the age of 15, she goes to New Hampshire, where she studies at an American school and lives in a friendly family; the girl will remember her with kindness.

The desire to become a journalist brings the graduate to the Kuban State University. At the same time, she is honing her television skills with Vladimir Pozner himself (an iconic media personality, he was the host of teleconferences between the USA and the USSR, and hosted a program about the Soviet Union in the States).

Margarita began her working career at the age of 19. The Krasnodar channel is filming a story about her as a promising young writer; during the break, the girl mentioned her dream of working on TV.

From 1999 to 2000, Margarita interned and immediately decided to try her hand as a “war correspondent.” Then in an interview he will advise young journalists not to start with such painful topics. For the girl, they became a school of life that significantly influenced her worldview. In 2000, she was awarded a prize for professionalism and courage. During the same period, she received a responsible position - editor of the Krasnodar television and radio company. Margarita Simonyan was immediately offered work on other channels - VGTRK (as a correspondent), RTR. Since 2002, the talented and purposeful journalist began to be part of the permanent circle of press representatives who cover Kremlin events (representative of the presidential pool).

In 2004, the journalist managed to make a report about the tragedy in Beslan.

The TV channel began broadcasting in 2005. Russia Today, which reflects the sentiments and opinions of politicians and the public regarding world events. Main actor- Russia. The concept of the channel became an unspoken response to the Voice of America program, popular during the USSR period, which was the “microphone” of the United States for the residents of the Union as well. Margarita Simonyan became the first editor-in-chief of the television company, and a little later she took the same position regarding the Arabic-language and Spanish-language broadcasting of Rossiya Segodnya.

In 2010, Simonyan received an award from the hands of the President of Armenia for her professionalism and contribution to the development of journalism.

In 2011-2013, Simonyan began to be recognized by more and more television viewers - she hosts the program “What’s Going On?” and "The Iron Lady". At the same time, Margarita is on the board of directors of the most popular and largest media representative - Channel One.

Since 2013, the television celebrity has been the head of Russia Today and the editor-in-chief of MIA Rossiya Segodnya.

Her literary activities did not remain in the shadows. In 2010, the book “To Moscow” finally saw the light of day. This is a story about a whole generation, to which Margarita Simonyan herself belongs. The plot revolves around a girl and three friends living in a hostel. The maturation of young people and their views is shown. There was also a love story (for example, between the attractive student Nora and her married adult lover). This modern prose shows that one feeling remains unchanged and always correct, no matter how banal it may sound, but it is relevant - love for the Fatherland.

In the story “The Train,” readers will find interesting descriptions of portraits of the country’s inhabitants, landscapes, and once again take a different look at the familiar world of things.

In 2018, Margairita Simonyan became Vladimir Putin's confidant in the presidential elections.

Personal life

Despite being so busy, the young woman manages to devote time to her family. In the early 2000s, she was in a relationship with a colleague, Andrei Blagodyrenko. In 2013, while working until the end, the journalist became the mother of a girl, Maryana. After opening his own restaurant in Sochi, the head of Russia Today began to be seen in the company of the director, Alena Khmelnitskaya’s former husband, Tigran Keosayan. In 2014 in civil marriage they had a son. Margarita Simonyan and her actual husband named him Bagrat.

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Russian journalist Margarita Simonyan Simonyan has been the editor-in-chief of the Russia Today TV channel (Russia Today) since 2013. When she took up this position, she was only 25 years old. This appointment became the most discussed topic at that time, many wondered why this twenty-five-year-old Armenian girl was entrusted with such a responsible post. How did Margarita Simonovna Simonyan distinguish herself? However, no incriminating evidence was found on her person. And the passions subsided. Further in the article we will talk about the life path of this amazing woman who was able to make such a successful career.

Simonyan Margarita Simonovna: biography, parents

The future journalist was born in early April 1980, in the southern city of Krasnodar. Margarita has a sister, Alice. After she took the post of general director of the RT television channel in 2013, many began to wonder who Simonyan’s parents were. Margarita Simonovna and her sister lived in very cramped conditions since childhood. Their father was a refrigerator repairman, and their mother was a flower girl and sold flowers at the market from morning to evening. The money my parents earned was only enough for food. Their house was very old and located on one of the outskirts of Krasnodar, named after the great Russian writer N.V. Gogol. The house was infested with rats, there were no ordinary living conditions: gas, sewerage and water supply. Today I can’t even believe that the USSR could have had such terrible living conditions. The girls had to live in this horror for about 10 years, after which the family received an apartment. It was life at the “bottom” that inspired in Margarita an irresistible desire to escape from poverty and achieve success in life.

Academic success

Despite the fact that Margarita’s parents did not pay attention to the development of their children’s intellectual and creative abilities a lot of attention, the girls were smart and quite diligent. Little Rita was one of the first in her kindergarten group to learn to read. The teacher told her to read fairy tales to her classmates before bed. Later, Margarita Simonovna Simonyan was admitted to the first grade of specialized school number 36 in the city of Krasnodar. Here they engaged in in-depth study of foreign languages. It turned out that the girl has a great ability for English. She studied with straight A's and was sent to the Olympiads. When the girl was 16 years old and in the 9th grade, she opened up to her great opportunity improve your English level to the proper level. As part of a student exchange program, she was sent to study in the United States, in the state of New Hampshire. She settled with a very friendly and warm family, went to an American school, communicated with peers and learned the peculiarities of life in mysterious America. She still has excellent, one might say “family” relationship with this family. Margarita even thought about staying overseas, but soon realized that life was best for her in her native country.

Higher education

After graduating from school, by the way, with a medal of honor, Simonyan Margarita Simonovna, whose biography is the topic of this article, entered the Faculty of Journalism of the Kuban State University, along with this she studied at the V. Posner School of Television Excellence, and also wrote poetry. It turned out that the press was interested in the collection of poems by the 18-year-old Armenian, and a film crew came to her home to make a report about her. It was during this interview that she mentioned that she dreams of becoming a journalist. And then she was invited to work on Krasnodar television.

First steps in the media

In December 1999, she went to Chechnya to cover fighting. At the same time, Margarita decided to spare her parents and only told them that she was going on another business trip. At the same time, Margarita began filming stories for federal channels. Her fearlessness and professionalism were highly appreciated by the government, and Margarita Simonovna Simonyan was awarded many federal awards. A year later she was appointed leading editor information portal TRK "Krasnodar", and in 2000 - editor-in-chief on the same TV channel. Later she moved to the All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Channel in the city of Rostov-on-Don. Then Margarita decides to continue her “military” career and goes to Abkhazia, writes reports about the clashes in the Kodori Gorge.

To Moscow

In 2002, Margarita Simonovna Simonyan finally received an invitation from the management of the Vesti television program to work as a staff correspondent, naturally moving to Moscow. Of course, she accepted the invitation, and soon she was already part of the presidential pool. In September 2004 in North Ossetia, in Beslan, there was terrible tragedy. At that time, Margarita was in Minvody. She received an order from the channel's editorial office and went to the scene of the tragedy. The entire time the hostages were in the hands of terrorists, she stood outside the school and went on air every half hour. At times her voice broke due to the sobs choking her. After that, she could not come to her senses for a long time.

First responsible post

In 2005, the Russia Today TV channel was created in Moscow. He broadcast in English and was called upon to express official Russian position about various political situations in the world. In the professional sphere, many were surprised that Margarita Simonyan was appointed editor-in-chief of the channel. Nevertheless, RIA Novosti presented arguments regarding this appointment. According to them, the head of the service had to be so young that he did not remember what the news was on Soviet television. She must have a new way of thinking, a modern view of everything. In addition, she spoke excellent English and could objectively assess information flows. Later, Margarita also led the Arabic-language and Spanish-language versions of the TV channel.

Career

In 2011, Margarita decided to create her own news project “What’s happening” on the REN TV channel and act as its presenter. The program was broadcast weekly, on which M. S. Simonyan discussed the most important events last days, which they avoided talking about. Direct participants in these events were invited to the program. After 2 years, a new political show appeared on NTV in live, hosted by Margarita Simonyan and Tina Kandelaki - an Armenian and a Georgian. The program was called “Iron Ladies”. However, due to some reasons, the show was closed.

Creation

Since childhood, Margarita dreamed of becoming a writer. She wrote poetry, and already at the age of 18 she published a collection of poems written by her. Her next book was published in 2010 and was called “To Moscow.” This is a novel about the generation of the nineties, about the difficulties, difficult destinies of people whose lives coincided with the collapse of the USSR, about the unfulfilled dreams of young people who in an instant lost their present and future. A year after the release of the novel, Margarita received an award for the best book written by a journalist. Her next work was the story “Train”. She published excerpts from it in the Russian Pioneer magazine; she also writes culinary articles for this magazine.

The journalist does not like to talk about herself. In 2012, in an interview, she said that she and journalist Andrei Blagodyrenko had been living in a civil marriage for 6 years now, and as for consolidating official relations and a wedding, she was not at all ready for this. In the same year, Margarita went to Sochi, where the Simonyan family restaurant “Zharko!” was being built. It was there that she became close to her compatriot, a famous director. Tigran Keosayan and Margarita Simonyan spent more and more time in each other’s company. And everyone already perceived them as a couple, despite the fact that Tigran continued to be married to actress Alena Khmelnitskaya. A year later, in the summer of 2013, Margarita gave birth to a daughter, Maryana. On next year She and Tigran had a son, who was named by the Armenian name Bagrat. Today Simonyan Margarita Simonovna and Keosayan Tigran are a family, although they are not legally married. They have two beautiful children.

Awards and titles

In 2000, Margarita was in the arena of military operations in Chechnya and reported in a bulletproof vest. She received a state award for her dedication to the profession, courage and professionalism.

In the same year, Margarita was recognized as the winner of II All-Russian competition regional television and radio companies. Her TV report about children in Chechnya was recognized as the best. Still in the same 2000, she received a presidential scholarship.

In 2010, in Moscow, the President of the Republic of Armenia presented the famous journalist with the “Movses Khorenatsi” medal - the highest government award of the Republic of Armenia.

She has several more state awards of the Russian Federation: “For Services to the Fatherland, 4th degree” (2014), two “Order of Friendship” (2007 and 2008), etc.

In 2012, Margarita Simonyan’s name was included in the list of 100 most influential women in the Russian Federation, where she took 33rd place. She is a member of the public council at the main directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, and since 2013, by appointment, she has assumed the position of editor-in-chief of MIA Rossiya.

Compromising evidence and sanctions

After famous events In Ukraine, Margarita Simonyan was included in the list of 49 journalists and media executives who are prohibited from entering the territory of the republic.

RT (formerly Russia Today) is the first Russian information channel broadcasting around the clock in English.

Russia Today is the only TV channel in Russia that broadcasts in different languages. The target audience– foreigners living in the Russian Federation or those who are interested in Russia. In the words of the first editor-in-chief of the TV channel Margarita Simonyan, the purpose of creating RT was show the world the real state image of Russia, broadcast world news from the Russian point of view.

The level of Western media is low, the professionalism of journalists is questioned, they do not understand Russia, are full of prejudices and are hostile. During the war in South Ossetia, Western news channels, using fake fragments, spread false news that was directed against Russia.

Facts like these helped RT realize the need to provide Western media and viewers with authentic information and television pictures. To this end, Russia Today has opened a free website on the Internet with high-quality videos that foreign media can download and use for free. Currently more than 2000 funds mass media 155 countries have become users of this resource, including the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) and Fox Internet Television.

Russia Today is a non-profit structure; all expenses, which are approximately $60 million per year, are covered by the State Duma of the Russian Federation

Owner Autonomous non-profit organization "TV-News"

Managers Alexey Nikolov (CEO), Margarita Simonyan (Editor-in-Chief)

Structure

The Russia Today TV channel was created on the basis of the state company RIA Novosti. About $30 million, mostly budgetary funds, were spent to launch the project. There is a TV channel with subsidies from the budget. Russia Today TV channel is a news channel focused on international broadcasting. Broadcasts are conducted around the clock in English. The Arabic edition was launched, thanks to which broadcasting began in this language. The Russia Today TV channel broadcasts in more than 100 countries around the world. The television company employs 600 professionals. The staff includes experienced Russian and foreign journalists, news editors and young professionals. Russia Today cooperates with 40 companies producing documentaries. News is constantly coming from correspondents in all Russian regions. The channel has offices in London, Paris, Jerusalem, Washington and Cairo.

The basis of the broadcasting of the Russia Today information channel is hourly blocks of news about what happened in Russia and the world, about business, culture, sports and science. About 70% of the broadcast volume is international information. In addition to news, including business and sports, Russia Today's broadcast schedule includes documentaries and programs about culture.

Programs

News is the main information program. Comes out every half hour.

Business - economic news.

Sport - sports news.

Weather - weather forecast.

Interview - exclusive interviews. Presenter - Sofiko Shevardnadze.

CrossTalk - discussion about the main event of the day. Hosted by Peter Lavelle. One of the blocks of the program is led by Elena Khanga.

Keiser Report is a weekly program about the economy. Host - Max Kaiser.

Moscow Out is a program telling about unusual places and phenomena in Moscow.

Prime Time Russia is an evening show about the main events in Russia. Hosts: Anna Fedorova and Neil O'Harvey.

Russia Close-Up (English: Russia close-up) - reports and live broadcasts from various cities and localities in Russia.

Spotlight (English: Spotlight) is a program in which the host Alexander Gurnov, together with a guest, talks about the most notable event or phenomenon of recent times.

Technology Update is a monthly program about the most interesting discoveries and achievements of science.

The Alyona Show is a talk show about the main events in America. Presenter - Alena Minkovskaya.

XL Reports is an investigative and reporting program.

TV channel "RUSSIAN WORLD".

"Russian World"- an international 24-hour Russian-language channel broadcasting from Moscow to the United States. It is aimed at the Russian-speaking population of the United States (more than 10 million people) and at those Americans who are interested in the culture, history and life of Russia.

Goals and objectives of the Internet television channel “Russian World”:

· dissemination and popularization of the Russian language and culture in the world;

· preservation of ties by compatriots with the homeland of their compatriots;

· maintaining a sense of belonging to Russia and the Russian world among foreign compatriots;

· transfer of Russian cultural traditions to next generations and people of other cultures interested in Russia.

Programs

· “Dialogue with America” is a program that is business card channel. Broadcast live every weekday. Guests of the program were famous presenters, musicians, politicians (since 2003)

· “To America with love!”

· "News"

· “Commonwealth News”

· “Morning with Lelya Turubara”

· "Little Politics"

Founders and shareholders

Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network (RTRS)

Federal government agency Russian State Broadcasting Company "Voice of Russia"(FGU RGRK “Voice of Russia”) is a state radio station that has been broadcasting to foreign countries since October 29, 1929.

Radio station tasks- introduce global community with the life of Russia, its point of view on events in the world, to conduct a dialogue with compatriots abroad; to promote the popularization of Russian culture and the Russian language.

On December 22, 1993, by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 2258 "On the creation of the holding company "Russian State Television and Radio Technical Center "Efir" and the Russian State Broadcasting Company "Voice of Russia" on the basis of the Creative Association "International Moscow Radio" the Russian State Broadcasting Company "Voice of Russia" was created .

On January 12, 1996, by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 12 “On the Russian State Broadcasting Company “Voice of Russia””, the Russian State Broadcasting Company “Voice of Russia” was transferred directly to the management of the Federal Service of the Russian Federation for Television and Radio Broadcasting. In 1998 it became part of the All-Russian State Television and Radio Company.

A lot has changed in 14 years. In 1996, Internet broadcasting was added to the radio broadcast, the “Russian Service” appeared, new sections were opened: “Logic of Power”, “World Politics”, “About Cinema and More”. On November 18, 2009, a new program “ Space environment" The Voice of Russia is gaining new listeners.

Monitoring service. A new series of newsletters, dozens of information summaries and reviews.

The Voice of Russia has taken its first steps in satellite and digital broadcasting and has become a modern multimedia media outlet in continuous contact with listeners in different regions of the world.

“Voice of Russia” is a member of the National Association of Television and Radio Broadcasters (NAB), the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the International Committee on Digital Radio Broadcasting (DRM), and a member of the International Conference of Audience Research Services of International Broadcasters (CIBAR).

Public organizations that form a positive image of the country abroad. ALL-UNION SOCIETY FOR CULTURAL RELATIONS WITH ABROAD (VOKS) (then SSOD-UNION OF SOVIET FRIENDSHIP SOCIETIES)

Revolution and ending civil war raised before Soviet Russia the question of breaking out of the international isolation that had formed as a result of Western governments’ rejection of the country’s new foreign policy and ideological course.

Throughout the 20-30s. The USSR managed to overcome diplomatic isolation. In 1924, diplomatic relations were established with Great Britain, Italy, Austria, Greece, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, France, China, and Mexico.

In the mid-1930s, with the establishment of diplomatic relations with the United States and entry into the League of Nations, the Soviet Union managed to become a full-fledged subject of international relations.

It was during this difficult period in April 1925 that a public organization was created, uniting in its ranks figures of Soviet science, literature, art, public education and sports, namely All-Union Society for Cultural Communications. The founders were the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs, the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions, the People's Commissariat of Education of the RSFSR, the Academy of Arts, the Museum of the Revolution, the All-Union Book Chamber and other organizations, as well as prominent representatives of science and culture.

Officially in tasks of the All-Union Society for Cultural Relations with abroad included familiarizing the USSR public with the cultural achievements of foreign countries and popularizing the culture of the peoples of the Soviet Union abroad, which contributed to the development and strengthening of friendship and mutual understanding between the peoples of the USSR and other countries.

For these purposes, VOKS worked closely with foreign societies for friendship and cultural relations with the USSR. Thus, for the first time in history, an organization was created that was supposed to deal with issues of cultural relations with foreign countries and coordinate this work on a state scale.

The creation of VOKS was welcomed by many prominent representatives of the foreign public. Among them were Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Henri Barbusse, Rabindranath Tagore, Theodore Dreiser, Bernard Shaw, Herbert Wells, who later became active partners of the new organization.

At the invitation of VOKS, delegations of foreign societies, as well as prominent figures of science and culture, came to the USSR, in turn, VOKS sent delegations and representatives of Soviet science and culture to foreign countries to participate in congresses and conferences; theater groups, musical and choreographic ensembles; organized the exchange of literature and museum exhibits, etc.

The company issued its own "VOKS Bulletin", which was published in English, French and German languages.

The Second World War slowed down cultural and scientific contacts between countries. At the same time, during the war, VOKS played a serious role in uniting prominent figures of world culture in the fight against fascism. It was during the Second World War that new societies of friends of the USSR began to be created in order to support Soviet people in his fight against fascism.

In 1941, they appeared in Lebanon, Syria, New Zealand, Australia, Chile, and India.

In 1942, the Friends of the Fighting Soviet Union society was created in Mexico. Through VOKS the USSR received medicines, equipment for hospitals, and other aid purchased with funds from sympathetic foreign publics.

After the war, the authority of the USSR was so great that new organizations were created in countries that were spared the war. So in 1945, the societies “Switzerland - USSR”, “Madagascar - Soviet Union” and many others appeared.

By 1957, national societies for friendship with the USSR were already operating in 47 countries. On the initiative of VOKS and a number of others public organizations a counter process was also underway in the Soviet Union. By the end of the 50s, societies for Soviet-Chinese, Soviet-Czechoslovak, Soviet-German, Soviet-Polish friendship, societies for Soviet-Indian cultural relations, “USSR-Finland” and “USSR-Italy” were created.

Chairmen of the Board of Directors of VOKS:

Kameneva Olga Davydovna (1925-1929)

Petrov Fedor Nikolaevich (1929-1933)

Arosev Alexander Yakovlevich (1934-1937)

Kemenov Vladimir Semenovich (1940-1948)

Denisov Andrey Ivanovich (1948-1957)

Popova Nina Vasilievna (1957-1958)

In 1958, numerous friendship societies were united into Union of Soviet Friendship Societies (SSDS), which became the successor to VOKS. SSOD became a massive voluntary association of Soviet public organizations whose goal is to develop and strengthen friendship and cultural cooperation between the peoples of the Soviet Union and foreign countries. Its highest governing body was the All-Union Conference, three meetings of which took place in 1958, 1967 and 1974. Governing body between conferences the Council became the executive body, the Presidium.

The deepening and expansion of friendly contacts between the Soviet and foreign publics was realized in various forms:

Exchange of various kinds of literature

Experience of scientific and cultural achievements

Exchange of delegations and specialized tourist groups

Mass friendly correspondence between teams and individuals

Friendship societies united 25 thousand enterprises, collective farms, state farms, educational institutions, scientific and cultural institutions. Over 50 million people participated in the work of the SSDS. Every year, republican societies alone held about 25 thousand events dedicated to foreign countries, their history, science, art, anniversaries and memorable dates, as well as solidarity with the peoples of Indochina, the Middle East, Africa, Chile. About 2,000 events were held annually at the Moscow House of Friendship.

SSOD maintained contacts with 7.5 thousand organizations, public figures and representatives of science and culture from 134 countries. There were 108 public associations and institutions of friendship with the USSR around the world. Many friendship societies were awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples, orders of socialist countries, including the Order of Georgiy Dimitrov (Bulgaria), the Order of Peace and Friendship (Hungary), the Order of the Great Star of Friendship of Peoples (GDR), the Order of Victorious February (Czechoslovakia), etc. .

Numerous SSOD printed publications were published regularly. For example, a newspaper "Moscow News" published in English, French, Arabic and Spanish with a one-time circulation of up to 600 thousand copies. Monthly magazine "Culture and Life"– in English, French, Spanish and German with a one-time circulation of 90 thousand copies.

In the 60–80s, the material and financial base of the activities of the SSOD was significantly strengthened. Since the mid-60s, the active formation of a network of cultural centers of our country abroad began - before that, work with the foreign public was carried out mainly through friendship societies.

Thus, in the period from 1959 to 1975, 21 Cultural Center, including in Poland, Morocco, Indonesia, India, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and other countries. In 1975-1986, 17 more centers were opened, including countries such as Austria, Syria, Nepal, Peru, Cambodia, East Germany, Argentina.

Chairmen of the Presidium of the SSOD:

· Popova Nina Vasilievna (1957-1975)

· Kruglova Zinaida Mikhailovna (1975-1987)

· Tereshkova Valentina Vladimirovna (1987-1992)

Russian Association international cooperation(RAMS)

The SSDS and Soviet friendship societies underwent significant transformations. The successor to the activities of the SSOD for the development of public relations was the International Union public associations "Russian Association for International Cooperation (RAMS), established in 1992

Target: coordinating the work of Russian non-state structures in the field of public diplomacy.

Russian Center for International Scientific and Cultural Cooperation (Roszarubezhcenter)

In 1994, a new structure was created on the basis of the SSDS - Russian Center for International Scientific and Cultural Cooperation under the Government Russian Federation(Roszarubezhcenter). He received the status government agency under the Government of the Russian Federation.

At the same time, fundamental internal political changes in the country have seriously affected the structure of the department. Due to the deep economic crisis, funding was radically reduced. In a number of countries, the activities of Russian Centers of Science and Culture (RCSC) were discontinued, and Russia's presence abroad was narrowed. Nevertheless, Roszarubezhcenter continued to implement a number of effective and popular projects. The most effective program of Roszarubezhtsentr was Russian language courses at the RCSC, which did not stop operating after the collapse of the USSR.

Much attention has been paid to maintaining interest in the Russian language abroad. For a long time, Roszarubezhcenter and its numerous representative offices were the only truly functioning mechanism for teaching the Russian language abroad.

On February 6, 2002, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree “On the Russian Center for International, Scientific and Cultural Cooperation under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.”

Purpose of the decree: strengthening the coordinating role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in pursuing a unified state foreign policy line, as well as the development of economic, scientific and cultural cooperation between Russia and other countries. Thus, the Roszarubezhcenter under the Government came under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Leaders:

Tereshkova Valentina Vladimirovna (1992-2004)

Mitrofanova Eleonora Valentinovna (2004-2008)

Federal Commonwealth Office Independent States, compatriots living abroad, and on international humanitarian cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo)

Decree of President D.A. Medvedev dated September 6, 2008 No. 1315 of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, compatriots living abroad, and international humanitarian cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo). When the Agency was created, its Head was appointed F.M. Mukhametshin.

On March 5, 2012, the President of the Russian Federation D.A. Medvedev appointed Head of Rossotrudnichestvo Konstantin Iosifovich Kosachev.

Rossotrudnichestvo is intended to become an effective tool for the development of international cooperation in the humanitarian sphere.

In its work, the Federal Agency, subordinate to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, strives to make maximum use of the experience of its predecessors. In a relatively short period, the Agency managed to formulate a development strategy, develop regulatory framework, establish strong partnerships with Russian ministries, departments and public organizations.

The main task of Rossotrudnichestvo: intensification of Russia's policy in the cultural and humanitarian sphere, as in post-Soviet space, and in foreign countries.

Today the Agency has a truly functioning system for supporting the Russian language abroad, promoting Russian educational services, expanding cooperation between educational institutions partner countries, as well as working with graduates of Russian universities.

The Agency, together with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, developed a draft Concept of the federal target program “Russian Language” for 2011-2015, which was approved by the Scientific Coordination Council under the Ministry of Education and Science.

Priority direction Rossotrudnichestvo's work is interaction within the CIS in the field of innovative cooperation.

In this area Federal agency A number of unique projects are being implemented. For example, together with the Higher School of Economics, an Interstate Target Program for Innovative Cooperation among CIS Member States for the period until 2020 was developed. On October 18, 2011, the Council of Heads of Government of the CIS adopted the Interstate Program for Innovative Cooperation.

Unlike traditional diplomacy, which works with foreign authorities, public diplomacy deals with people. Russian centers of science and culture around the world are constantly open to everyone, attracting citizens to various cultural, scientific and educational events.

Related information.