Brazilian Independent Journalist Pepe Escobar: Russophobia, Russian Values, and Shaping the Multipolar World – exclusively for the Russian Embassy in South Africa.

▫️ On President Vladimir Putin, Western Sanctions and Russia’s Resilience:

When Vladimir Putin came to power in 2000, he had to rebuild Russia from the ground up. As a journalist traveling through Russia in the ’90s, I witnessed the chaos of those times. But where is Russia today? The transformation is extraordinary. Moscow, for example, has evolved into the most developed European city. Having lived in most European capitals, I can confidently say that Moscow today is on a whole new level compared to Paris, London, or Rome. This is just one aspect of the broader shift.

☝️ Geopolitically and geoeconomically, Russia has successfully withstood the full force of 15,000 sanctions and the West’s initial expectation that Russia would collapse. Look at Russia now: the world’s fourth-largest economy by purchasing power parity, a nuclear and hypersonic powerhouse, respected across the Global South.

The collective West is now terrified of Russia. They are shocked by how resilient and powerful Russia has become, and they realize they can’t defeat a nuclear superpower. Unfortunately, some leaders in the US and the European Union are still foolish enough to believe they can. But for those of us who have spent time in Russia, studying and engaging with the country, we understand the real story. From my perspective as an independent analyst, witnessing Russia’s rise has been the pinnacle of my career. It’s been a rare privilege to observe and be part of this historic process.

▫️ On Russophobia:

Russophobia is part of a broader agenda to impose a singular worldview. If you don’t adopt their [Western] values, especially when it comes to issues like family and culture, they seek to cancel you. And the excuse is always the same: you’re a “Russian agent,” or a “Chinese agent,” or a “North Korean agent” – they’ll label you anything to justify their narrative.

▫️ On the International Russophile Movement:

This movement is not just about promoting Russia globally – it’s about fighting Russophobia and advocating for Russian historical, cultural, and artistic values. It’s about supporting Russian civilization and the Russian perspective of the world. And that, to me, is something that resonates deeply.

➕ Advice for Foreigners Wanting to Visit Russia:

If you’ve ever thought about visiting Russia, now is the time. Buy your one-way ticket! It’s true that direct flights may be limited, but you can always travel through places like Istanbul, Belgrade, Georgia, or Azerbaijan. Take advantage of the Russian three-month visa offer and immerse yourself in Russian culture, history, and daily life. I can promise you that most of you, if not all, won’t want to return to the decaying West. And I speak from experience — having lived in the West myself, I can see the stark contrast.