Rose-tinted portrayal"Tourist" opens with a flashback of Russian mercenaries coming under heavy attack from a group of Central African rebels. Recently, the spokesperson for the CAR government confirmed that a further 300 Russian military instructors were now in country, in their "bilateral capacity." "Tourist" appears to be -- at least in part -- a much-needed attempt to improve the perception of Wagner mercenaries in CAR. recent UN report said Russian mercenaries had committed human rights abuses in CAR, alongside government forces, as they repelled rebel groups -- something Valery Zakharov, CAR's National Security adviser has denied. But the movie also has a dual purpose: Glorifying the work of these "military instructors" to a domestic Russian audience.

Source: CNN May 28, 2021 03:56 UTC