• Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al Mayadeen, Ghassan Ben Jeddou (Right) and Vladimir Tyulin (left), General Director of Izvestia, Beirut, 20 March 2025 (Al Mayadeen)

The Al Mayadeen Media Network has signed an agreement with the Russian Izvestia Media Center, which will see a multi-faceted cooperation between the two entities.

The signing took place Thursday between Ghassan Ben Jeddou, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al Mayadeen Media Network, and Vladimir Tyulin, Director General of the Russian Izvestia Media Center. The Russian Ambassador to Lebanon, Alexander Rudakov, and a group of journalists were also present during the ceremony. 

In his remarks during the signing ceremony at Al Mayadeen's headquarters, Ben Jeddou highlighted that the cooperation agreement is broad in scope, covering exchanging information and expertise, organizing training programs, and collaborating on joint productions.

Speaking on relations with Russia, Ben Jeddou stated, “We are concerned with Russia as it is,” emphasizing the commitment to presenting Russia to the Arab world.

He also pointed to the sanctions and blockade imposed on Russia, emphasizing that the most damaging restrictions are those targeting culture and education. He described such measures as a form of decline that reflects the mindset of those enforcing them.

Agreement with Izevstia part of an international alliance

On this occasion, the Chairman of Al Mayadeen Media Network announced that the collaboration with Izvestia will be part of a global media alliance set to be unveiled soon, describing this initiative as a "strategic" move.

He added that the new global media alliance will hold an inaugural conference in Beirut later this year, explaining that its goal is to break the media monopoly imposed by certain Western powers while clarifying that it does not position itself "as an alliance against others."

For his part, the director of the Russian center, Vladimir Tyulin, praised the ties of friendship and cooperation in countering the pressures being exerted, highlighting that despite the challenges, partnerships continue to play a crucial role in advancing journalistic work. Tyulin invited Al Mayadeen to Moscow for cooperation and the sharing of expertise.

Meanwhile, the Russian Ambassador to Lebanon, Alexander Rudakov, said that the agreement's significance lies in the exchange of information and the closeness between the Russian and Lebanese peoples, emphasizing that Al Mayadeen's ability to deliver realistic news and its viewership satisfy the need for accurate news.

Several journalists in attendance also spoke about the importance of the agreement in strengthening media partnerships, particularly with prestigious Russian institutions.