Latest news with #TatyanaDovgalenko
Russia Today
27-05-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Moscow calls for greater African media presence
Russia would welcome a greater presence of African media outlets in the interests of balance, Tatyana Dovgalenko, the head of the Department for Partnership with Africa of the Russian Foreign Ministry, has said. Dovgalenko made the statement during the opening of the African Horizons international forum in Moscow. The event, organized by the news agency African Initiative and the African Business Club, was held on May 24-26 to mark Africa Day. It brought together diplomats, business leaders, academics, and diaspora members. In a video address to participants, Dovgalenko noted that practical cooperation between Russia and African countries is progressing steadily across political, economic, and humanitarian spheres. She emphasized that the media plays a pivotal role in supporting this momentum, particularly by offering audiences a fair representation of international events. 'We are counting on the presence of African media in Russia to expand,' the diplomat stated. Russian media outlets, she said, are contributing to this by broadcasting in more than 40 African nations. 'We [Russia] will continue to support the consolidation of the continent's position as an independent center of power within the emerging multipolar world order,' she concluded. Earlier this month, Dovgalenko highlighted the historical foundations of Russia-Africa relations, noting that these ties are not recent developments but are rooted in the Soviet Union's backing of African liberation movements during the decolonization era. She also underscored Moscow's approach to partnership with Africa, contrasting it with that of other global powers. According to Dovgalenko, Russia does not treat Africa as a battleground for geopolitical rivalry, but as a space for equal and mutually beneficial cooperation. She stated that unlike some external actors, Russia refrains from pressuring African nations into taking sides or aligning with specific blocs. 'We respect their sovereignty and national interests not in words, but in deeds,' she stressed.
Russia Today
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Africa understands root causes of Ukraine crisis
African countries have demonstrated a clear understanding of the causes of the Ukrainian crisis and the role Western powers played in fueling it, Tatyana Dovgalenko, the head of the Department for Partnership with Africa of the Russian Foreign Ministry, has said. In an interview with New Eastern Outlook published on Monday, Dovgalenko noted that many African governments have maintained an independent position, grounded in non-interference and national sovereignty, and have refused to adopt anti-Russian sanctions despite significant pressure from the West. The stance taken is a 'vivid demonstration' of Africa's refusal to capitulate to foreign influence. Instead, she said, many nations across the continent have opted for pragmatic, constructive relations with Moscow. Russia's ties with Africa are not newly forged but rest on decades of friendship and cooperation dating back to Soviet support for liberation movements during the decolonization period, Dovgalenko emphasized. 'There is a strong memory of the substantial and selfless contribution made by the USSR to the struggles of African peoples for freedom and independence, as well as Moscow's assistance in strengthening sovereignty, defense capacity, and in helping the young economies of the continent take shape,' the Foreign Ministry official stated. In contrast to what she described as a widespread European willingness to ignore the past, she argued that Africans are especially attuned to the dangers of foreign interference. African countries have long been subjected to unilateral sanctions and double standards, with some still enduring these measures today. 'The continent knows firsthand what unilateral and illegitimate restrictions mean, and understands their selective, unfounded, and unjust nature,' she pointed out. According to Dovgalenko, Russia does not view Africa as an arena for geopolitical rivalry, but rather as a space for mutually beneficial cooperation. She said this approach sets Russia apart from other global players, because Moscow does not dictate who African nations should align with, nor does it pressure them into taking sides. 'We respect their sovereignty and national interests not in words, but in deeds,' she added. Dovgalenko also pointed to tangible economic progress, stating that Russia has maintained its commitments to the continent despite Western restrictions. 'In 2024, Russian agricultural exports to African countries rose by almost 20%, exceeding $7 billion and reaching 45 nations across the continent,' the official highlighted. In March, Dovgalenko told Jeune Afrique that Russia does not see Africa as a zone of rivalry with other global powers. She contrasted Moscow's approach with that of former colonizers, saying Russia has never exploited the continent or acted like a 'predator.'
Russia Today
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Africa not a battleground for global power struggles
Russia does not view Africa as a battleground for competition with other global powers, Foreign Ministry official Tatyana Dovgalenko has said in an interview with the French magazine Jeune Afrique. Unlike former colonial powers that have frequently treated the continent merely as a source of raw materials, Moscow has never engaged in exploitation or 'behaved like a predator,' the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Department of Partnership with Africa stated. Dovgalenko underscored that Russia 'deeply respects the sovereignty of African states and their national interests. This approach fundamentally contrasts with the provocative and destructive methods of the West.' She noted that despite external pressures, African nations have not supported unilateral sanctions against Russia. Addressing allegations from Paris regarding Russia's involvement in anti-French sentiment in the Sahel region, the diplomat remarked that 'accusing Russia and the Russians is a well-established French refrain.' She attributed France's waning influence in Africa to its own miscalculations and outdated approaches. 'Unfortunately, it has become common for those who do not dare to recognize their mistakes and take responsibility for them,' the official added. Dovgalenko highlighted that Ukraine is seeking to involve more Global South countries, particularly in Africa, in an anti-Russian coalition, but that nations on the continent are resisting these efforts. She noted that Kiev has expanded its diplomatic presence in Africa, instructing ambassadors to disrupt longstanding ties with Russia rather than foster bilateral relations. However, African states have largely rejected these efforts, avoiding what Dovgalenko called the 'political shortsightedness' seen in Europe. Dovgalenko also thanked a delegation of seven African nations and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa for their peace initiative on the Ukraine conflict, proposed in July 2023. South Africa has insisted on maintaining a non-aligned stance, even when facing the threat of losing access to its American market trade privileges during the administration of former US President Joe Biden. Earlier in January, Anatoly Bashkin, director of the African Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, told Izvestia that representatives from Kiev and the West have been conducting targeted 'political demarches' and a full-fledged 'information campaign' to undermine Russia's efforts to strengthen relations with African nations.
