The European Union bans the broadcasting of four pro-Russian media outlets. Voice of Europe, RIA Novosti, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, and Izvestia. These media outlets spread misinformation to influence public opinion. According to Vice-President of the European Commission Věra
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Jourová, “What we suspected is confirmed: the Kremlin uses dubious channels, posing as the media, and buys hidden influence with money. Moscow develop outlets, like Voice Of Europe, which pretend to be legitimate but then spew lies,” she said. Voice of Europe broadcast from
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Prague and recently the Czech Information Security Service (BIS) released a huge investigation in which they uncovered a large network organized by Russia, which also tried to influence the elections to the European Parliament on June 6-9. The Czech site
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writes about this. It became one of the largest exposed Russian influence operations in recent years. BIS began working on this case last spring, when the Voice of Europe website went live in the Czech Republic. Russians in Prague tried to influence
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European Parliament elections in Germany, France and Belgium. The main players in the network of influence were Viktor Medvedchuk and his close associate Artem Marchevsky. Former Ukrainian politician Viktor Medvedchuk, known as “Putin’s godfather,” currently lives in Moscow,
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after he was detained in Ukraine and exchanged along with 55 Russian soldiers for 215 Ukrainians, including more than a hundred of Azovstal defenders. Currently sanctioned in the Czech Republic, the pro-Russian propagandist, a citizen of Ukraine and Israel, Artem Marchevsky,
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who headed the Voice of Europe platform, received temporary protection in Slovakia after the Czech Ministry of Internal Affairs decided to revoke the Czech temporary protection visa that he received after the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The Slovak Ministry of
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Internal Affairs does not yet intend to initiate a case against Marchevsky. They don't see him as a threat. The Voice of Europe website was influenced and financed from Moscow. The news site provided space for politicians who demand an end to EU aid to Ukraine and who spread
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narratives favorable to Russia. According to BIS, hundreds of thousands of euros were paid out from Russia for these purposes in the last year alone. Some European politicians who collaborated with the media platform were paid for this. Some of their campaigns were financed
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by money coming from Russia. Some politicians from Germany, France, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Hungary were involved. The case involves the German far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD). The platform content is directed against Ukraine, migrants, LGBTQ,
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the European Union and Muslims. Information from the site is widely disseminated by openly pro-Russian and Russian social media accounts such as TikTok and Facebook. French newspaper Le Monde reported in early March that the French counterintelligence agency DGSI has been
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investigating a “pro-Russian campaign” ahead of the European Parliament elections since last fall. The information was received from the Czech secret service. French intelligence services are also monitoring the European Parliament campaign, which is led by the far-right
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National Rally party, previously led by Marine Le Pen. Earlier, Russian politician Alexander Babakov helped them get a loan of nine million euros. Shortly after the publication of information about the exposure of the Russian network in the Czech Republic, the Polish
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counterintelligence service ABW also announced that it had conducted searches during which it had seized almost 48,500 euros and $36,000. Network members wanted to lead pro-Russian initiatives and media campaigns in the EU to promote Russian policies. Money from Russia to
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politicians in Europe flowed to the Czech Republic through Poland. This was announced by the Chairman of the Czech Parliamentary Security Committee Pavel Zacek. He was talking about hundreds of thousands and millions of euros. This is not support for the site or payment for
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some kind of interview, it seems that the site is some kind of cover. Resources are aimed at creating a fifth column within the European Union. The money was intended for future aides and newly elected politicians in the European Parliament. The money was delivered to the
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Czech Republic from Poland by couriers. At the same time, an investigation began in Poland against a Polish citizen suspected of spying for Russian intelligence services. He also allegedly bribed Polish and European parliamentarians in favor of Russian services. So it's not
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just one channel. It is a network of different websites, social media pages and different platforms. The investigation carried out by the Czech intelligence services into the Russian network is of great concern, said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. According to him, Dutch
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intelligence services are also involved in the investigation. The Netherlands, like other EU member states, has decided not yet to publish the names of politicians who received money from Moscow. Before this, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, called
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on EU leaders to be “on guard.” This comes after Latvian MEP Tatyana Zhdanoka was accused by the Russian independent newspaper Insider of spying for the Russian Federation based on leaked emails. The European Parliament subsequently launched a formal investigation. I would
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like to add that in Estonia we also have a pro-Russian member of the European Parliament, Jana Toom. It is not yet known whether an investigation is being carried out against her, but I would like to believe that KaPo is looking into it. NATO Allies are deeply concerned
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about recent malign activities on Allied territory, including those resulting in the investigation and charging of multiple individuals in connection with hostile state activity affecting Czechia, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
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The Estonian Security Police KaPo published a detailed report on Russian tactics and its influence in Europe in 2018, but it did not cause widespread resonance at the time.
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The discussed cancellation of tourist visas for Russians in the new package of European sanctions has caused a wave of outrage among the so-called Russian opposition. Yulia Navalnaya and her team submitted a petition to Brussels, calling to distinguish between “ordinary
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Russians” and the “regime.” The Russian opposition should have long ago stopped being taken seriously. They are not concerned with the fate of Ukraine and they have no sense of responsibility for what is happening in their own country. The only thing that worries them is
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the loss of the ability to live in Europe and enjoy the benefits of the civilized world. Alexei Navalny, it should be reminded, was not against the occupation of Crimea. In fact, the main regret of the Russian opposition is that it is not they who are in power. They are not
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The Russian army is facing a gasoline shortage in the occupied regions of Ukraine. About two weeks ago, a shortage of gasoline at gas stations began, and sales to private individuals were restricted. However, the Russian army in these areas often uses civilian gas stations,
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frequently even refueling at its own expense. The reason is constant Ukrainian strikes on logistics. When a fuel truck arrives at the rear, a rush and crowd form, which Ukrainian reconnaissance drones detect and coordinate strikes on. On top of this, there are frequent cases
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of fuel theft and resale on the black market. Resellers take advantage of the gasoline shortage and sell “under the table” for more than 200 rubles per liter, while the usual price at gas stations is 60–70 rubles per liter. The occupation authorities happily integrated into
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The economic crisis in Russia is worsening. The budget deficit already amounts to 5 trillion rubles for the first seven months of the year, or 3.4% of GDP. This figure is twice the planned value for the entire year, 1.7% of GDP. Today or tomorrow, data for August will be
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published, and the number will be even higher. The main reason is the decline in oil and gas revenues. For the second month in a row, revenues remain at a record minimum of about 500 billion rubles per month, while 1 trillion rubles are needed to cover planned expenditures.
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The problem for Russia is that they have nothing to cover this deficit. There is increasing talk about the need to lower the key interest rate to revive the economy. Proposals are being made to reduce it to 16%. However, lowering the rate never happens without consequences -
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The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit has shown that a power capable of posing an economic challenge to the US and the EU has taken shape in the world, and it is directed from Beijing. Putin arrived in China for a four-day visit. Such a long trip by the Russian
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dictator is called, on the one hand, a triumph after his return from Alaska, where US President Trump solemnly welcomed him on the red carpet and did not impose sanctions. On the other hand, relations between Beijing and Moscow are not equal: China benefits from preventing
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rapprochement between Putin and Trump, but Xi also does not want Russia to grow stronger. The SCO is seen as China’s attempt to contain the US in the Indo-Pacific region and as Russia’s response to NATO expansion. However, experts acknowledge that this is not an alliance or
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Europe once again demonstrates its toothlessness towards Russia. The incident with von der Leyen’s plane is a serious event, where the lives of everyone on board were put at risk. An excellent comment on this matter was written by Former Foreign Minister of Lithuania
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Gabrielius Landsbergis: "Deeply concerned to hear about the deeply concerning GPS interference that diverted @vonderleyen 's flight. Europe stands united in expression of deep concerns and must commit to the deployment of ever-deepening concerns moving forward." Expressing
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deep concern is the main tactic of the EU in times when decisive action is needed. I feel like a parrot repeating the same phrase – a tough response to Russia is needed. It understands only the language of force, and if this force is demonstrated, Russia will retreat. It is
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Russia’s budget deficit has surged to around ₽5 trillion (about $62.5 billion). That’s 130% of what was planned, and there are still four months left in the year. Another round of inflation is expected this autumn. The central bank’s decision to cut the key interest rate
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in June has triggered a new problem—a sharp increase in household debt. Russian consumers typically lack financial literacy, and in hard times they don’t cut back or save; instead, they live day to day, as if it’s their last, without thinking of the future. It’s the classic
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Russian “avos’” mentality. Once the key rate fell from 21% to 18%, people snapped up new loans without much concern about how they’d repay them later. Everyone irrationally hopes that it’s temporary and will somehow resolve itself. This is all before even accounting for the
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