Report: Russia prepping PR campaign

BRUSSELS, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- The state-owned Russian news agency RIA Novosti has instituted a public relations campaign to advance Moscow's interests, the EUobserver reported Tuesday.

Citing an unnamed sources in the Brussels public relations industry, the publication said RIA Novosti has hired a little-known media consultancy, RJI Companies, in a bid to recruit a major PR firm to help it embark on a media blitz to justify Russia's power ambitions and improve the image of the late dictator Joseph Stalin.

The EUobserver says part of the campaign will be a November conference on the Arctic in Moscow in which Russia will portray itself as being environmentally friendly, with similar events in the Middle East and Far East set for next year.

The source said RIA Novosti is also shopping a second PR contract meant to "generally improve the image of Russia abroad," in which Moscow would reportedly be portrayed as a benign great power with the right to be at the same table as the United States, China and EU on security and energy issues, the EUobserver said.

"Expect to see more articles in European newspapers saying that Stalin had his good points as well," the PR executive added.