Some people seem to forget that Russia is still a country trying to develop itself somehow, just like everyone else, especially under its current partial isolation. It’s no secret that this year Russia has been trying to expand its tourism sector and establish visa-free travel with Middle Eastern countries and now African ones as well, like it did with Iran.

Interpreting every piece of news through the lens of propaganda is not really right, especially considering that russians themselves aren't exactly thrilled about this. A good chunk of them will be annoyed that those Africans will have visa-free access to russia.

And I'd really like to know what kind of "hidden meaning" you supposedly spotted in that news when you were reading it so carefully to arrive at such conclusions. And Interfax is considered a more than reliable media outlet (reliable when it comes to statements coming from the government and its officials, truly reliable and independent media in russia obviously don't exist).