Country Report
Russia's approach to external cultural policy is distinctly conservative and parochialistic, with a main focus on the regional scope, especially in the post-Soviet countries in Russia's 'neighborhood'. One of its main objectives is to advance foreign policy interests by disrupting Western powers and by forging new alliances with non-aligned countries. Under Putin’s regime, Russia has become more authoritarian, with a crack-down on civil society and ever-expanding control of the media, especially since 2022. To better exercise its soft power and expand its influence in the international arena, Russia still has to also deal with a number of internal difficulties.
