russia
![Image courtesy of the Press Service of the President of the Russian Federation](https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/sites/default/files/styles/275x168/public/uploads/rsz_11024px-19th_world_festival_of_youth_and_students_opening_ceremony-09.jpg?itok=bXPUDHJH)
The Inter-Parliamentary Union and the International Conference of Youth and Students are two events that promote Russia’s soft image to the world.
![Image courtesy of Pavel Byrkin via iStock](https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/sites/default/files/styles/275x168/public/uploads/rsz_russia-today-879430524_1271x828_1.jpg?itok=TIiiwg9j)
Joseph Braude explains the popularity of RT in Arab countries and what American media can do to counter it.
They were turning away Russian reporters Thursday at the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament. But when I showed up, I flashed my accreditation card and a big American smile and walked right in. That's because of something that rarely gets mentioned about Russia: A correspondent accredited with U.S. media here can enjoy privileges that his Russian media counterparts can only dream about.
Russia's lower house of parliament on Wednesday banned Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty from entering its premises, a day after the Russian government declared the organizations "foreign agents." The 413-1 vote by the Russian State Duma to ban the outlets came as Moscow followed through on its promise to retaliate for similar U.S. actions against the English-language Russian network RT, which Russian leaders characterize as an assault on freedom of the press.