Greece - Russia Relations
Greek-Russian diplomatic relations were established in 1828. Apart from its Embassy in Moscow, the diplomatic representation of the Hellenic Republic in Russia includes the General Consulates in Saint Petersburg and Novorossiysk, a region with a significant presence of Russian citizens of Greek origin. Russia maintains an Embassy in Athens, a Consulate General in Thessaloniki, as well as Honorary Consulates in Crete and Dodecanese, Corfu and Ionian Islands, Peloponnese (Patras), Nafplion, Lamia and Alexandroupolis.
Greece and Russia maintain long historical, religious and cultural ties, which have always formed the basis of close cooperation between the two countries. In this regard, in the years before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, numerous bilateral contacts and visits at the highest political level took place.
The positive course of bilateral relations was interrupted, however, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Greece, like the rest of the EU member states, strongly condemned the invasion as a blatant violation of International Law, the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and global values. It supported all relevant decisions taken as a response within the framework of the EU and NATO. Our country is implementing the sanctions imposed on Russia by the European Union.
The last visit of the President of Russia, Mr. Vladimir Putin, to Greece took place on May 27-28, 2016, and that of the current Prime Minister, Mr. Mikhail Mishustin, on March 24, 2021, for the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the beginning of the Struggle for Greek Independence. On the Greek side, the most recent visits were by Prime Minister K. Mitsotakis on December 8, 2021, in Sochi, and by the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. N. Dendias, on February 18, 2022, in Moscow.
The convening, within a span of three years, of the 11th, 12th, and 13th Joint Interministerial Committee on Economic, Industrial, Technological, and Scientific Cooperation between Greece and Russia was indicative of the strong level that characterized the economic relations between the two countries (Moscow, December 5-6, 2018; Thessaloniki, April 18-19, 2019; and Moscow, November 29-30, 2021).
In Russia, there are: a) Departments of Byzantine and Modern Greek Philology at Lomonosov Moscow State University, b) Department of Byzantine and Modern Greek Philology at Saint Petersburg State University, c) Department of English and Greek Language at Kuban State University (Krasnodar). Additionally, Greek is taught as a foreign language within different specialties at four Russian universities. Furthermore, the Center for Greek Culture and the Greek Community of Moscow organize Greek language courses.
Building on previous initiatives such as the "Year of Greece in Russia and Russia in Greece" (2016) and the "Year of Tourism Greece-Russia" (September 19, 2017 – December 31, 2018), 2019 was declared as the Mutual Year of Language and Literature between Greece and Russia. On October 26, 2020, the Foreign Ministers of the Hellenic Republic and Russia signed a joint Memorandum for the conduct of the Year of History Greece-Russia 2021. The opening ceremony of the Year took place on July 2, 2021, at the National Historical Museum (Old Parliament Building). During the meeting between the Greek Prime Minister and the Russian President in Sochi (December 8, 2021), it was agreed to extend the Year of History for the first half of 2022. However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine led to the discontinuation of all activities.
A significant factor that has consistently contributed to the development of relations between Greece and Russia is the historical presence in Russia of a substantial number of Russian citizens of Greek origin. These individuals predominantly reside in the southern regions of Russia, around the Black Sea.
The process of democratic consolidation pursued by the Karamanlis governments during the 1970s had included among its objectives the steady improvement of relations with the Soviet Union. Several bilateral economic cooperation agreements included large and sensitive projects ranging from the construction of energy plants to arranging for the servicing of Soviet ships in Greece. Regular exchanges of top-level visits, initiated by Karamanlis, continued under the two PASOK administrations in the 1980s.
In the 1980s, Western observers and Greek opposition leaders frequently charged that PASOK's "independent and multidimensional" foreign policy gave the appearance of a pro-Soviet bias. For example, Papandreou described the United States as "the metropolis of imperialism," and in 1983 he praised Polish communist party first secretary Wojciech Jaruzelski as a patriot rather than condemning Jaruzelski's declaration of martial law in Poland.
Explaining these statements, Papandreou argued that he was trying to wean Greece from total dependence on the United States and to end "one-sided alignment with one specific bloc." Although the prime minister's comments clearly irritated Greece's American and European allies, the Greek-Soviet ties established in the 1980s survived the political upheaval that ended the Soviet Union in quite good condition. Russian president Boris N. Yeltsin made a successful visit to Athens in 1993, and in July 1994 a high-level delegation from the Greek defense ministry continued a long series of official visits to Russia.
Greek relations with Imperial Russia have a long and complex history that evolved over several centuries. Here's a brief overview:
Byzantine Period (330 AD - 1453 AD): During the Byzantine Empire, which was the continuation of the Eastern Roman Empire, there were sporadic contacts between Greeks and what would later become Russia. However, direct relations were limited due to the vast distance and geopolitical dynamics of the time.
Russian Expansion into the Black Sea Region (17th - 18th centuries): As Russia expanded its influence southward, particularly into the Black Sea region, it encountered Greek communities living in areas such as Crimea and the shores of the Black Sea. These interactions were often commercial and cultural in nature, with Greeks participating in trade and serving as intermediaries between Russia and the Ottoman Empire.
Greek War of Independence (1821-1832): During the Greek War of Independence against Ottoman rule, Russia played a significant role as a supporter of Greek independence. Russian volunteers, military advisors, and financial aid supported the Greek cause. The Orthodox ties between the two nations were also instrumental in Russia's support for Greece.
Creation of the Greek State: Following the Greek War of Independence, Greece achieved its independence and became a recognized state in 1830. Russia, along with other European powers, played a role in the establishment of the modern Greek state.
19th Century Diplomatic Relations: Throughout the 19th century, Greece maintained diplomatic relations with Imperial Russia. The two nations shared cultural and religious ties, given their common Orthodox Christian heritage. However, tensions also existed, particularly due to the complex geopolitical landscape of Eastern Europe and the Balkans, where both countries had interests.
Eastern Question and the Crimean War (1853-1856): During the Crimean War, Greece maintained a neutral stance, but sympathized with Russia due to their shared Orthodox faith. However, Greece's neutrality was largely dictated by its own geopolitical considerations and its aspirations for territorial expansion in the Balkans.
Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries: Greek-Russian relations continued to be influenced by geopolitical factors, including the rivalry between Russia and other European powers in the Balkans. Despite occasional tensions, cultural and religious ties remained strong.
Overall, Greek-Russian relations during the Imperial era were characterized by a mixture of cooperation, shared cultural heritage, and occasional tensions driven by geopolitical considerations in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans.
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