The Kremlin Imitates Recognition of Crimea: Why the Visit of African Ambassadors is Just Propaganda

The Center for Countering Disinformation reported that Russian propaganda is trying to convince citizens that the temporarily occupied Crimea is 'not isolated'.

It is noted that Kremlin propaganda is actively showcasing the visit of ambassadors from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to Crimea, portraying it as a 'diplomatic breakthrough' and the beginning of 'investment cooperation'. However, African states, reliant on external aid, are unlikely to provide serious investments in the sanctioned Crimea.

'Such meetings have no real economic substance and are used solely for informational purposes: the Kremlin is trying to imitate 'international recognition' of the occupied peninsula and create an illusion of economic development prospects,' the Center stated.

In practice, any projects with African states are limited to symbolic gestures and propaganda.

Russian propaganda is attempting to create the impression that Crimea is not isolated by using visits from ambassadors from Africa to the occupied peninsula as a 'diplomatic breakthrough'. However, experts point out the lack of real economic substance to these meetings and believe this is just PR and an imitation of 'international recognition'.