Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday dismissed Yevgeny Primakov as head of Rossotrudnichestvo, Russia’s state cultural diplomacy agency, and replaced him with Igor Chaika, the son of Russia’s former prosecutor general.
Rossotrudnichestvo operates under Russia’s Foreign Ministry and is one of Moscow’s main tools for promoting “soft power” and influence abroad.
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The agency oversees a global network of cultural centers known as “Russian Houses,” as well as programs aimed at Russian-speaking communities and Kremlin-aligned compatriots abroad.
Primakov, the grandson of former Russian prime minister and ex-foreign intelligence chief Yevgeny Primakov, had led the agency since June 2020.
Since the mass expulsion of Russian spies and diplomats from embassies in 2022, Russian Houses have faced growing scrutiny over allegations that they serve as platforms for Russian intelligence and influence operations.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, the centers have also become more aggressive in promoting the Kremlin’s wartime narratives abroad.
Several countries have moved against them. Azerbaijan ordered the Russian House in Baku to suspend operations in 2025 after local reports accused it of acting as a hub for intelligence activity, while Moldova’s parliament later voted to close the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Chișinău, citing concerns over Russian influence and national security.
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