This week has started in Paris two Russian initiatives: first, opened the spiritual-cultural center and, later, an exhibition with masterpieces from the collections of Russian museums, which are of a great demand, writes the Washington Post.
According to the newspaper, with the help of such “cultural diplomacy” Moscow is trying to clear its reputation abroad.
Russia deploys in France, “cultural diplomacy,” writes the Washington Post. So, in Paris was opened the exhibition “Masterpieces of new art. The collection of Shchukin”, which, among other things, presents the paintings of Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso from the Hermitage and the State Museum of fine arts named after A. S. Pushkin. About this exhibition, as noted in the article, already trumpeted by all the major French Newspapers and TV stations, and tickets for this “unprecedented” event are of a great demand.
“Call it “cultural diplomacy” or “soft power”, but this box office show is only one of the two kicked off this week in Paris, a major Russian initiatives whose aim is to cleanse the reputation of Moscow abroad,” — says the article.
The newspaper reminds that in this environment after “significant disputes with local authorities” on the banks of the river Seine close to the Eiffel tower was opened a Russian spiritual and cultural center, which includes a “massive” temple of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Says the Washington Post, the timing for these initiatives is important, at least for France, since recently, relations between Paris and Moscow reached a record low after French leader Francois Hollande has criticized Russia’s actions in the area of the Syrian city of Aleppo, calling them “war crime”. In response, Vladimir Putin has canceled his visit to Paris, during which, as planned, he had to participate in the opening of the temple and of the exhibition.
