The first Russian think-tank based in the United States has yet to officially
open its doors. But it's already generating a lot of controversy.
Critics say the Russian Institute for Democracy and Cooperation (RIDC) is
little more than a new propaganda tool for the Kremlin as it sharpens its
attacks on the West. But the head of the institute's New York branch says he
and his colleagues intend to study US democracy - not criticize it.
Andranik Migranyan bristles at the suggestion that the new think-tank is seen
as Kremlin tool meant to respond in kind to the
harsh critiques often heard from Western non-governmental organizations like
Freedom House and Reporters Without Borders.
The political scientist says scrutinizing US conduct at Guantanamo Bay or the
George W Bush administration's public-surveillance program are not on RIDC's
agenda. Instead, the organization's main goal is to study the United States for
potential solutions to common problems back in Russia.
"We have very serious problems today concerning these problems of immigration,
integration and adaptation," Migranyan said at a recent press conference in
Washington. "Russia is becoming more multinational, multiethnic,
multireligious, and we have serious problems in this area. This country [the
United States] has a long-lasting history on all these issues. And we would
like to know how these problems are discussed here, how they are solved here -
as well as institutional problems, and problems [with values]. What do those
things mean?"
There's no disputing that during most of Russian president Vladimir Putin's
eight-year rule, which ended this month, US rights groups like Human Rights
Watch and Freedom House - not to mention the US State Department, in its annual
human rights report - have frequently criticized the Russian government for a
variety of sins against democracy.
Such groups have noted a steep decline in Russia's civil liberties under Putin,
pointing to the forced closure of independent media outlets, the jailing of
political opposition figures, and tight state control of campaigns and
elections.
Russia often seeks to discredit the findings of such Western rights groups. But
with the formation of RIDC and other initiatives like Russia Today, a
government-funded English-language news channel begun in 2005, the Kremlin
appears to be moving from a defensive posture to an offensive one.
Yet Migranyan said the idea for the institute was not a tit-for-tat response to
Western criticism, describing it instead as the brainchild of a number of
Russian political thinkers who are interested in the concept of democracy and
in making sure Russia's own thoughts on the subject are heard.
"In Russia, from [former] president Putin to President [Dmitry] Medvedev to the
rest of academics to the mainstream, or at least majority, they accept the idea
of liberal democracy," he said. "They value institutions and values, they
understand that this gives efficiency to the economy, efficiency to political
system[s]. But at the same time, the idea of sovereign democracy means that you
can't just impose it."
Questions remain
Migranyan, who has held several advisory posts with the State Duma and
Federation Council, describes himself as an avid student - if not a fan - of
American political affairs. Unabashedly in the Kremlin's camp, he is quick to
criticize opposition leaders like Garry Kasparov and Duma deputy Vladimir
Ryzhkov.
The launch of RIDC was announced with fanfare at the start of 2008. Its
operations, however, remain somewhat vague. The institute has yet to create a
website, for example, and a Paris branch, reportedly already open, has shown
little sign of life. Migranyan says he has already signed leases on office
space for the New York office and is waiting for a US bank to approve the
institute's status as a non-profit charity.
While he waits, he says he's holding meetings with potential US partners -
think-tanks like the Brookings Institution and the Heritage Institute; Russian
studies centers like the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at
Harvard; and academic institutions like the University of California at
Berkeley.
Questions remain about RIDC's funding. Many observers have alleged that the
group receives handsome support from the Kremlin. But Migranyan says that while
the Kremlin approved the group's creation, financial support comes from
"different business structures and donors who are interested in America" - and
not the government.
Still, a fellow speaker at Migranyan's press conference - while not
acknowledging Kremlin funding - saw nothing wrong with accepting government
support. Edward Lozansky, the president of the American University in Moscow,
lashed out at a questioner from the National Endowment for Democracy for what
he characterized as a double standard on the question of government funds.
"The last time I [checked] the National Endowment for Democracy was funded by
the US government," Lozansky said. "I don't know, probably you get some private
funds, too, but most of the money comes from the government. The same with the
National Democratic Institute, the same with National Republican Institute."
Lozansky, who was stripped of his academic position in the 1970s for publicly
criticizing Soviet policy, appeared convinced his country was on the right
track - and that naysayers should find another country to inspect. "It may take
Russia 50 or 100 years to achieve total democracy, but it will get there," he
said. "Let them do their own thing."
Heather Maher is a senior correspondent in RFE/RL's Washington bureau.
Previously, she was a senior editor and director of training at Transitions
Online in Prague. She has also been a reporter for ABCNews.com, an
international assignment editor at CNN, and the news editor of the Prague Post.
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