Russia’s International Youth Festival reportedly drew representatives from 191 countries. Foreign attendees got unrestricted internet access. Russian attendees did not.
The International Youth Festival has wrapped up in Yekaterinburg after running from September 11 to 17. Rosmolodezh, the festival’s organizer, had said 10,000 people would attend: 5,000 from Russia and another 5,000 from other countries. Representatives from 191 countries reportedly took part — nearly the entire world. The United Nations has 193 member states.
The International Youth Festival in Yekaterinburg concluded on September 17 after a week-long event. Organized by Rosmolodezh, the festival saw 10,000 participants — 5,000 Russians and 5,000 from abroad. Representing nearly every nation, attendees included Dima Bilan, Vanya Dmitrienko, and Steven Seagal, among others. Foreign celebrities with Russian passports were among the stars.
The festival showcased exhibitions on restored Donbas churches, neo-Nazism, and even dancing in traditional kokoshniks. A standout feature was the differing internet access for Russian and foreign guests. While foreigners enjoyed unrestricted connectivity, Russians were confined to a restricted network. This disparity aimed to boost foreign endorsement of the festival abroad, with SIM cards for delegates enabling access to services unavailable in Russia.
Festival officials hoped this would foster more trust in Russia among foreign audiences, countering negative perceptions.
Written by urgent.news from Meduza (English)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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