Thread by @Knoks

1/13 Here's a Russian propaganda story for @christogrozev un @bellingcat right out of the movies. We're in Venice, unintentionally eavesdropping on a conversation between 2 Russian guys (a bartender and his friend) and one of the regulars... So 🧵

2/13 It's a great new bar in Venice, always packed with locals, mostly a student crowd. Why the hype? It's cheap. Dirt cheap! Drinks half the price of anywhere else around so students and locals like the place.

3/13 Our friendly bartender Sergei tells us he's lived in Italy for more than 20 years. He's a friendly guy, always happy to pour a little extra. But along comes a regular - let's call him Valerij (as we don't know his real name)

4/13 Every night we're there, Sergei and Valerij, among the crowd but engaged in discussion - how Italy is tired of sanctions, how the United States started the war in Ukraine, the richness of Russian culture and, of course, the existential danger of Nazis in Ukraine.

5/13 Locals, especially the students, listen to them with great interest (sorry to my Italian friends, but we know how the youth both here and there lean). But so what? Discussion isn't inherently bad, right?

6/13 But this is where it gets interesting... On the 3rd night, we ran into our friends again. What they didn't know is that we understand Russian. So as Sergei and Valery sat next to us and quietly discussed their job - to persuade locals with Russian propaganda - we listened.

7/13 They discussed the latest in Ukraine, key talking points, and what to tell to whom depending their views. They even called Putin - nachalnik (boss) - just like @M_Simonyan. It was like a meeting in a telemarketing office - what and when should be told.

8/13 So what do we do? Confront them. Twice. At first, we didn't mention what we heard, just interested that we heard them speak Russian. They were both a little confused, but, as we spoke, they quickly remembered their task.

9/13 They immediately hit all the talking points - how great it was to be together in the USSR, the beauty of Russian culture, the coming energy crisis this winter, how the United States are warmongers, and, finally, Crimea, Donbass, and South of Ukraine is part of Russia.

10/13 So finally confronted them as Russian propagandists, told them that we know they are on a "mission", and that they are uncovered now. Sergei was really nervous and stopped the conversation, while Valery, confused as to why we think so but left the bar in minutes.

11/13 So... I know this sounds like a paranoid conspiracy, but just what if Russia intelligence opens small bars in say Italy, Spain, and Greece? Cheap drinks and a great atmosphere drawing crowds, and well-trained staff and "customers" to push Russian propaganda.

12/13 Recruited Russians who work Europe and speak the local language fluently or perhaps even locals? Pay them good salaries and help them keep prices low? Put one man in charge of instruction and control for a few bars? Nice job, sip your cocktail and talk about US/UA Nazis.

13/13 So, again, perhaps its only a story. But for me (after hearing how Sergei and Valery talked about "their job"), it sounds more than believable. BTW, this is the bar, and this is Sergey and Valery. Sorry guys, I know it was not your main goal to become famous on Twitter.