Public Affairs Section

The Public Affairs Section (PAS) is responsible for the public diplomacy activities of the U.S. Consulate General in St. Petersburg - communicating American interests directly to foreign audiences, including opinion leaders and key institutions. It is one of four U.S. State Department public diplomacy centers in the Russian Federation, the second largest after the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.

PAS St. Petersburg administers most U.S. Government cultural, educational, press and information programs throughout Northwest Russia.

In addition to providing information to the newsmedia about U.S. Government and U.S. Consulate General policies, the Public Affairs Section features an Information Resource Center containing a significant collection of up-to-date American reference materials, periodicals and literature, as well as a video collection. PAS St. Petersburg also administers a number of cultural, educational, and professional exchange programs. These academic and other exchange programs are aimed at a wide variety of scholars and specialists, including EFL teachers, students, journalists, public administrators, and civic activists.

The Information Resource Center receives a daily digest (available electronically) called the Washington Files, a compilation of news stories about official U.S. Government activities along with official texts from the White House, the State Department, the Department of Defense, and other sources.

The Public Affairs Section in St. Petersburg was officially opened on December 17, 1993, and is currently headed by Mr. Steven Labensky, Public Affairs Officer of the U.S. Consulate General in St. Petersburg.

Contact Us

Public Affairs Section
Tel.: +7 (812) 336-7760, fax: +7 (812) 336-7766
E-mail: SPbPAS@state.gov
Mailing Address:
15 Furshtatskaya St. St. Petersburg 191028, Russia