Moscow officials will open a public-relations shop and launch media offensives in foreign countries as they embark on a $27 million, three-year campaign to combat Cold War bias and bolster the city's image abroad.

The campaign will also include several million dollars for hosting concerts, conventions, meetings and other events in Moscow; holding pro-Moscow events in international venues; and researching the city's PR problems.

Foreign journalists covering Moscow will also be courted by city officials, and ties will be strengthened with Russians living abroad.

The effort comes at the same time that federal authorities are looking to boost Russia's reputation. Of the total amount to be spent on Moscow's image, $17 million comes from the city; another $10 million comes from private donors.

Details about the image-boosting plan were released by city officials three weeks after Mayor Yury Luzhkov announced that Moscow must do something to correct the impression that Moscow is inhospitable to foreigners

IMHO, with all due respect to the Great City of Moscow, maybe the much of the image problem is not the city itself but the Russian Foreign policies that inevitably tarnish the image of Moscow and Russia in general in eyes of many thoughtful Westerners ? Moscow is certainly a great city and I visited there 4 times while living in fmr. USSR. The city has all the potential to become a top tourist destination, but it's impossible to get away entirely from the bad image if Russian leadership is continuing projecting the bad image of Russia.

Russia & Eurasia Ping List

Please FRMail me if you want to be added or removed from the Russia & Eurasia Ping list.

Phony image building by Putin and his low-life thugs.

Real image building: Get rid of the ex-KGB vermin and criminal gangs who run much of the country. Institute genuine democracy. Stop the endless corruption.

No matter what Moscow does (and it's a great city, in a great nation), as long as the Russian government pursues the ages old "screw the west as much as we can get away with it" policies, people won't be swayed.

Sergey,

The whole point of Luzhkov's program is erasing Moscow's image problem and bad reputation because of corrupt cops who prey on foreigners and the difficulties in getting tourist visas, etc. The "Cold War" slant is just fluff. And let's not get too carried away about how "great" a city Moscow is. In reality, it's a grey, harsh, metropolis with little to attract one to it - outside of visiting Red Square or the Kremlin. St. Petersburg is a "great" city. Moscow is as great as downtown LA.

Luzhkov would be wise to spend that money on raising police salaries so they won't prey upon tourists for bribes and worse. He could also beef up security around westerner-frequented sites, find a way to reduce the horrific gridlocked traffic, cut down on pollution, and do something about all of the beggars and bums.

The only thing they've shown progress on regarding "impressions" is Sheremet'evo-II - the passport control line is much quicker and they actually have turned on the lights in the terminal.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.