Russian Culture Ministry calls for study into Russophobia

The Russian Ministry of Culture has ordered a research study into “Russophobia and de-Russification”.

According to the TASS Russian News Agency, the Ministry is set to spend 1.9 million rubles ($29,000) on the study, which will explore the alleged “strengthening of Russophobic discourse both abroad and within Russia as a reaction to the era of the revival of the Russian state”.

The call by the Ministry invites research proposals that will produce “practical recommendations on combatting internal and international Russophobia”, exploring Russophobia both within the country and internationally and its impacts on “national interests and national security”. The researchers must also address practical ways to counter Russophobia. The deadline for applications is 25 July.

Accusations of Russophobia by the Russian Ministry of Culture have been well documented over recent months. A notable example is the Oscar-nominated film Leviathan (2014, dir. Andrey Zvyagintsev), which was slammed by Minister Vladimir Medinsky as “anti-Russian”.

Source: The Moscow Times and RT