en Rossotrudnichestvo

Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation
Федеральное агентство по делам Содружества Независимых Государств, соотечественников, проживающих за рубежом, и по международному гуманитарному сотрудничеству (Россотрудничество)
Agency overview
Formed	September 6, 2008
Preceding agency	Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States;
Headquarters	Vozdvizhenka Street 18/9 ; Moscow
Agency executives	Yevgeny Primakov Jr., Head; Natalia Poklonskaya, Deputy Chief;
Website	rs.gov.ru/en

The Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation^[a] or Rossotrudnichestvo is an autonomous Russian federal government agency under the jurisdiction of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.^[1] It is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and cultural exchange. Rossotrudnichestvo operates in Central Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe (but mostly in the Commonwealth of Independent States).

History

The agency was created from its predecessor agency by Presidential decree, signed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on 6 September 2008, with the aim of maintaining Russia's influence in the Commonwealth of Independent States, and to foster friendly ties for the advancement of Russia's political and economic interests in foreign states.^[2]

According to OECD estimates, 2019 official development assistance from Russia increased to US$1.2 billion.^[3]

Rossotrudnichestvo was assessed by expert observers^[b] to be organising and orchestrating synchronous pro-Russian public rallies, demonstrations, and vehicle convoys across Europe in April 2022 in support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Demonstrations were held simultaneously in Dublin (Ireland), Berlin, Hanover, Frankfurt (Germany), Limassol (Cyprus), and Athens (Greece).^[4]

Sanctions

In July 2022, the European Union imposed sanctions on Rossotrudnichestvo in relation to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.^[5]

Notes

^ Russian: Федеральное агентство по делам Содружества Независимых Государств, соотечественников, проживающих за рубежом, и по международному гуманитарному сотрудничеству; commonly known as Rossotrudnichestvo (Russian: Россотрудничество, "Russo-Colleagueship")
^ Ben Noble, associate professor of Russian politics at University College London; Mark Galeotti, an analyst and Russia specialist; and Sam Ramani, an international relations expert at Oxford University provided evaluations to The Times newspaper.^[4]