Andrey Bystritsky: Media is becoming a powerful force for social unity

At the Third Uzbekistan – Russia Media Forum in Tashkent, Andrey Bystritsky, Dean of the Faculty of Creative Industries at the National Research University Higher School of Economics of the Russian Federation, shared his views on cultural-enlightenment relations between the two countries, national identity, and the role of modern media in society.

As noted, in the context of today’s rapid changes, the issue of national identity and the preservation of historical and cultural heritage is becoming increasingly relevant. How people connect to a specific culture and its values, and how they perceive their national identity, is changing under the influence of modern processes.

Mr. Bystritsky focused on media’s potential to foster historical and cultural dialogue between Uzbekistan and Russia.

In his opinion, today’s media is becoming not just a tool for exchanging information, but a means of uniting society, building connections between various groups, and strengthening mutual understanding. In this sense, the media plays a key role in deepening dialogue between the peoples of the two countries, fostering a deeper understanding of their shared history and cultural heritage, and shaping an objective perception of modern Uzbekistan and Russia.

Dilshod Hakimov, photos by Farhod Abdurasulov, UzA