Hidden whitewashing of russia: a new wave of disinformation in EU countries
The information space in European countries, particularly Czechia and Slovakia, is seeing the spread of manipulative materials aimed at whitewashing russia’s image, discrediting European institutions and undermining security support for Ukraine.
In particular, a number of local information platforms with a reputation as «alternative» media are promoting pro-kremlin narratives claiming that russia poses no threat to Europe, while the real source of instability is allegedly EU policy and support for Ukraine.
Local websites that systematically promote such claims belong to a segment of the media that independent European research organisations and fact-checking monitoring networks identify as hubs of pro-kremlin influence in the region. They synchronise their content with narratives from russian media and adapt them for local audiences.
This is a subtle cognitive operation aimed at normalising the image of the aggressor state, which can be difficult for an ordinary reader to recognise. The authors of these publications distort the very notion of a threat: the absence of an immediate russian invasion of NATO countries is presented as a reason to negotiate with moscow while tolerating its hybrid attacks. However, the absence of tanks on the border today does not eliminate russia’s aggressive potential, which remains the main security risk for Europe.
