Thread by @PUnderyournoz

🧵Dear #OSINT community, in today's thread, let me introduce the #Russian asset of the day: @NRJhitmusiconly, a French media brand playing pop music… and promoting Russian military recruitment in occupied Ukraine 🇫🇷 🎶

From @InsiderEng: theins.press/en/inv/280133

1/ What happens when a global music brand ends up broadcasting war propaganda?

The #French broadcasting group #NRJ allows its brand to be used for #Russian military propaganda in occupied #Ukraine—while still operating freely in the rest of the country🎙️📻

2/ In January 2024, #NRJ #Russia began broadcasting in occupied #Donetsk, playing @edsheeran, @ladygaga… and military enlistment ads urging locals to join the Russian army 🎶🇷🇺

3/ The enlistment ad uses the slogan: “Join your own” ("Присоединяйся к СВОим")—a play on #Putin’s term for the invasion, the “special military operation” (SVO) 🇷🇺🪖

4/ @NRJhitmusiconly is an international brand owned by #France’s NRJ Group 🇫🇷. In #Russia, the brand is licensed to @Gazprom
-Media, a subsidiary of the #Russian state energy giant🛢️

5/ Here’s the twist: #NRJ also operates in #Ukraine, where its license is held by a #Kyiv-based media group. But curiously, Ukraine is missing from NRJ Group’s official broadcasting map 🔎🗺️

6/ The licensing deal between #NRJ Group & @Gazprom-Media was signed for €1.25 million💰 in 2020 and runs through 2025, with annual payments required. NRJ Russia keeps paying, and NRJ Group keeps collecting 💸💸

7/ In January 2024, @NRJhitmusiconly installed a new transmitter in occupied #Donetsk, extending its reach 30–50 km—spreading #Russian war propaganda under the cover of a global music brand 🔊🎶

8/ Now, here’s where it gets really awkward: While #NRJ #Russia promotes enlistment, NRJ Group’s French headquarters publicly supports #Ukraine—even hosting a charity event for Ukrainian hospitals & orphanages in 2023 🏥❤️

9/ Yet, #NRJ #Russia continues to receive official jingles & branding from NRJ Group—even as it actively supports Russia’s war efforts. That’s some serious "neutrality" right there! 🎭

10/ French regulators & #NRJ Group have been asked to clarify the legality & ethics of licensing NRJ’s brand to @Gazprom-Media. No response has been given ❌✉️

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