The Public Initiative “Creative Diplomacy”, otherwise known as PICREADI, was founded in 2010 by a group of young international experts from Russia. PICREADI states its official remit as involving the following areas: "soft power" and public diplomacy. As of July 2022, both PICREADI and its President, Natalya Burlinova, have been sanctioned by the United States.
PICREADI possesses various academic alumni that have come and gone; nonetheless, the original clique can be found here. As is the case with so many Russian organizations, the tenure of many individuals is short lived for unknown reasons. While reliable open-source literature remains scarce, there are certain elements that ought to be outlined as PICREADI: 1: was founded by a now-sanctioned individual; 2: employs an academic against whom Ukraine has called for sanctions; and 3: engages in behavior consistent with malign influence.
Two notable PICREADI figures are worthy of mention: Natalya Burlinova and Nikita Mendkovich; in addition to these individuals, the funding mechanism of the organization is cause for concern. Ms. Burlinova has an extensive tenure within the state apparatuses of Kremlin-backed organizations, such as, for example: Rosoboronexport–a state controlled intermediary dealing with military imports and exports; state-owned RIA Novosti; as a program manager to the now-sanctioned Gorchakov Fund; and as a current expert advisor to Rossotrudnichestvo (a/k/a Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation). Although he has departed PICREADI, Nikita Mendkovich’s book was financed by the Gorchakov Fund and was promoted by the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies, the same institute responsible for drafting a proposal on how to interfere in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election. Book promotion and financing aside, the Ukrainian National Agency on Corruption Prevention has called for Mr. Mendkovich to be sanctioned; part of the desire for sanctions lies in the accusation that he is an individual “who actively supports actions or policies that undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, as well as stability and security in Ukraine”.
PICREADI mirrors, more or less, the operational approach that Rossotrudnichestvo leveraged that resulted in drawing the FBI’s concern; the similarity or mirroring lies in how PICREADI implemented a program that was focused on fostering relationships with academic institutions–for example, Tufts University and University of Texas–and students via their study abroad program “Meeting Russia” while simultaneously, unbeknownst to many, having functioned as an undisclosed tool of Kremlin soft power as a Government Organized Non-Governmental Organization (GONGO). Despite the strategic messaging on PICREADI’s website addressing finances and independence, the United States Department of Treasury has stated the following: “Ms. Burlinova has described PICREADI as being independent in thought and mission, but it is reliant on state funding. Despite trying to hide its relationship with the Russian government and its intelligence services, Russia’s intelligence services direct and fund Burlinova and PICREADI.”
Nonprofit organizations, directly or indirectly, engaged in the laundering of money, reputations, narratives or criminal activity morally corrode the nonprofit space; moreover, any third sector organization (NGO) engaged in such practices can serve as a vehicle or vector for weaponized kleptocracy to undermine western institutions. Open-source signatures indicate the President, associated leadership, and its direct as well as indirect activities warrant PICREADI’s designation as a high-risk NGO. Therefore, Public Initiative “Creative Diplomacy” (PICREADI) has been placed onto the Institute for European Integrity’s NGO Watchlist.
