Russian ambassador to Buenos Aires, Dmitry Feoktistov, denounced several incidents in the South American country as part of a wave of global Russophobia that began after the launch of a special military operation in Ukraine and said he hopes that Argentine society will leave such episodes behind.
“Unfortunately, the wave of Russophobia also affected Argentina. Some incidents could not be avoided,” said the diplomat in an opinion published in Perfil newspaper.
The ambassador referred to the vandalization of the Annunciation Orthodox Cathedral in Buenos Aires in March, in which unknown persons painted insults on the facade and then the suspension of the traditional festival of Slavic culture ‘Mother Russia’.
“This year, we were given to understand that now its celebration is ‘inappropriate’,” the diplomat recounted.
He added that the city authorities did not allow Russian citizens to give a traditional concert dedicated to Russia Day at the city hall and that “suddenly” difficulties arose with the activities of the Russian Center of the University of Buenos Aires.
He also said that “literally in one day,” the director of the Colon Theater, Maria Alcaraz, who for her support for the development of cultural ties with Russia had been decorated by President Vladimir Putin with the Order of Friendship in 2019, was dismissed.
“I hope the Argentine society will not leave these facts without their assessment, and they will remain in the past. Let us not forget that Argentina is home to the largest diaspora of Russian compatriots in Latin America,” Feoktystov said.
Since Moscow launched its operation in Ukraine at the end of February, citizens, companies, and entities of Russian origin have been targeted worldwide.
Many in the West have also “canceled” current or former icons of literature, music, and cinema, such as Pyotr Tchaikovsky or Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and several sports associations have banned Russian athletes from participating in various competitions, including at the Olympic level.
With information from Sputnik