High Level Discussion in Russia - CPI meets with Lavrov, Liu Royi, Pushilin
From September 11th - 18th Russia held the International Festival of Youth; a platform for young leaders from around the world to gather in Russia and discuss the future and a multipolar world. Noah Schenk, Vice Chair of the Center for Political Innovation represented the United States of America at the festival connecting with young leaders and stressing the importance of a world beyond US backed globalism/imperialism and an axis of resistance within US borders.
On September 14th Noah participated in a panel with Liu Royi, a journalist from China Youth Daily put on by the Pioneers organization. The segment served as a dialogue between the 3 superpowers with both Schenk and Liu acknowledging the history of cooperation our three countries share and speaking to the need for further cooperation and communication. When asked about the role Youth play in the future of the world Noah responded “I think something thats really important is access to information… 50 years ago people sort of just accepted whatever was fed to them by the TV if the TV said it ok. But I think now people are beginning to question things that they’ve been told their whole lives… they are starting to realize ‘hey maybe people from around the world aren’t so different after all’... and I think as these barriers begin to break down people will understand that we aren’t so different”
On September 15th Noah was invited to attend a meeting of young diplomats and journalists, with Denis Pushilin head of the Donetsk People's Republic and Alexander Voloshin, who represents the DPR in the Russian senate. The meeting discussed the humanitarian situation in the Donbas and the way that the Russian Federation has been able to bring industry and development to the Donbas in spite of the ongoing Special Military Operation. During a Q&A session he asked Pushilin and Voloshin what can be done to raise awareness about the situation in the Donbas. “As information becomes available to more people… more and more young people in the west are beginning to question the narratives fed to them in western media. More young people are questioning what they have been told about Palestine and about the war with Iran… in spite of this many young people in the United States still believe much of the propaganda surrounding the Donbas region and the US government does everything in its power to suppress the truth. 3 prominent activists in the black community Omali Yeshitela, Penny Hess and Jessie Nevel were prosecuted under the Foreign Agents Registration Act simply for telling the truth about the reality in Donetsk. What can we do to spread the truth about what is really happening in the Donbas Region.”
Pushilin replied that we are already doing a lot simply by coming to Russia and doing all we can to tell the truth on social media. He also stressed that Donetsk is open to independent journalists and invited not only Noah but anyone who would like to spread the truth to visit Donetsk and document their experience.
On September 16th Sergei Lavrov had a special open dialogue discussion with participants in the International Festival of Youth. Noah Schenk was in attendance for the important meeting. Lavrov gave a masterclass in communicating the Russian perspective and the balancing act that is being such a high level diplomat. He covered topics from Russian investment in the African continent to bilateral relations between the Russian federation and its neighbors from Serbia to Armenia. He concluded with an announcement that Russia would again be ready for bilateral meetings to discuss an end to the Special Military Operation.
