On the eve of the BRICS summit in South Africa last month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov slammed the “colonial and racist manners” of “Western elites,” who exploit resource-rich countries to pursue goals that “do not reflect the aspirations of all mankind.” Russia, in contrast, stands for “strengthening” and “supporting” Africa, he wrote.
The image of Moscow as a friend of Africa clashes with the persistent issue of racism inside Russia, where pervasive everyday discrimination is often punctuated by extreme acts of violence such as Ndjelassili’s murder.
In the most recent 2020 poll released by the independent Levada Center pollster, 28% of Russians did not believe Africans should be allowed into the country, down from 30% in the year before. Just 4% of respondents said they were ready to be friends or work colleagues with Africans.
These issues aren’t exactly contradicting each other, though. You can be anti-immigration but still want other economies to grow and develop and be supported.
If only four percent are ready to work with/befriend Africans, I’d assume “grow and develop” are just means for exploitation.
You do understand that you can help someone without wanting to befriend them… Right?
Putin has brainwashed Russians with hatred towards everyone and everything.
Not that long ago Russia had a lot of LGBT artists, like Shura, Boris Moiseyev, t.A.T.u. (which even went to Eurovision), as well as many acts from xUSSR countries like Verka Serduchka were super popular. Everyone is gone and gay propaganda is a crime.
Not that long ago the USSR was trying really hard to show the world they love Africans, loads studied (for free), lived, married, had successful carriers. Great examples are rapper N’PANS and TV presenter Elena Khanga. Khanga moved to YouTube, N’PANS went underground.
Not that long ago racism and bigotry was weird and unusual, today it’s just the way of life.
And since the start of war, everyone who was against moved out to other countries.