On 11th April a discussion on ‘The Bulgarian reputation in Russia and the Russian in Bulgaria’ took place at the University of National and World Economy. It was organized by the ’International Relations Research Students Association’ in cooperation with the Russian culture and information centre in Sofia. The event gathered students, experts and professors from the university
Lectures were given by Denis Malatsev from the Russian Strategic Research Institute, Lukyana Suvorova, Head of the International Cooperation Department at the National Council of Youth Unions, and Aleksandar Afanasev, former civil servant at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. The discussion attended the Director of the Russian culture and information centre Mr. Viktor Bazhenov.
The main points discussed were the historical, cultural and religious proximity of the two countries and contemporary images for each other. The Russian guests emphasized on the problem with the falsification of history and the need of collaboration in youth sphere between Russian and Bulgarian organizations. The lectures provoked a lively debate about the current international situation amid the Ukraine crisis and the annexation of Crimea.
