The Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) is Russia’s elite diplomatic academy – an institute of higher education located in Moscow, Russia. MGIMO has played an indirect but notable role in shaping the ideological and diplomatic framework that supports Putin’s policies, including aggression against Ukraine. As Russia’s elite training ground for diplomats, MGIMO has produced many key figures in the Kremlin’s foreign policy apparatus. The institute promotes a worldview that emphasizes Russian sovereignty, great-power status, and skepticism toward the West—narratives often used to justify actions like the annexation of Crimea and the invasion of Ukraine. While not directly involved in military decisions, MGIMO helps cultivate the intellectual and ideological foundation for Russia’s assertive foreign policy.
Their involvement in shaping Serbian foreign policy has become more significant since Russia began its aggression against Ukraine. A number of Serbian citizens are affiliated with MGIMO, and some have even returned to Serbia to spread anti-Western, pro-Russian disinformation through Serbian media. NIFA maintains a preliminary list of these individuals which are available upon request..
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