Zakharova says neoliberal messaging is eroding social norms

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman spoke at the II Global Digital Forum in Moscow and urged audiences not to expect individual countries or leaders to resolve global challenges for them.

Maria Zakharova linked current public debates over gender identity and attitudes toward drugs to what she described as neoliberal propaganda. The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman made the remarks during a lecture at the II Global Digital Forum. The event is being held in Moscow from October 8 to 10, according to its organizers’ program.

Zakharova said today’s challenges were comparable in scale to those of World War II, but that the lines between social norms and their revision were now less visible. She cited debates over gender choice and attitudes toward drugs as examples. The diplomat argued that this rhetoric weakens the idea of drugs as an absolute evil and contributes to their legalization in a number of countries. That is Zakharova’s assessment, rather than an independent statistical account of legalization.

The spokeswoman concluded by urging people not to rely on one country, a group of states or a few leaders to arrive and solve problems for everyone else. She referred to Ernest Hemingway’s line about a bell tolling for each person. The organizers describe the II Global Digital Forum as an international event focused on digital issues and cooperation. In RIA Novosti’s report, Zakharova is the only quoted speaker, so her conclusions are presented as the diplomat’s position.