By: XHABIR DERALLA
The European Union External Action Service has prepared a report, for which Reuters first reported, determining that the Russian propaganda is abusing the pandemic for sowing panic and fear in the Western countries. This has long been no joke, and even less an exaggerated caution or paranoia. It’s not a report of some editorial office, of an obscene NGO or a grumbler on Twitter, but of the EU! Even little children know that there is an ongoing undeclared Cold War between the former East and West.
Disinformation is an important weapon in the arsenal of the Russian dictator against the democratic West, in the hybrid war that he has been leading for years outside the borders of the captured Russian state. The COVID-19 pandemic gives Putin an excellent opportunity to ignite that “war” in his favour.
The state administrations of the EU countries and the EU administration itself are busy tackling the virus, treating the infected and counting the victims from the pandemic. In the meanwhile, the Russian agitprop machinery, through Russian state and pro-Putin media in and outside of Russia, are producing fake news and disinformation about the coronavirus on a daily basis.
The main goal of the Russian attack is to undermine trust in the health care systems. That’s a direct blow to the state institutions in the EU member states. This hampers the efficient response to the infection. People who fall under the influence of this dangerous propaganda are uncooperative and irresponsible, while panic and fear are spreading incomparably faster than the infection itself.
Undermining the trust of the institutions is not the only dimension of this destructive attack. In that propaganda war, the Russian media and agencies are encouraging hatred and tensions between different communities, spreading igniting speech against vulnerable categories, ethnic communities, members of different races… Hence, instead of solidarity and cooperation with the system, the Russian propaganda manages to instil fear and alienation, hopelessness and panic.
The EU service for countering disinformation has discovered as many as 80 cases of disinformation, in which the direct connection with the media under the dictate of the Kremlin can be seen. Furthermore, the Report reveals how pro-Russian media are working on reinforcing the contradictory narratives that “capture” the information space with the purpose of undermining the European ability to act in protection of the interests and health of its citizens.
Sounds familiar?
Replacing facts with myths and conspiracy theories, information with fake news, cooperation with panic, solidarity with mutual accusations and hatred, are obvious in the actions of the pro-Russian underground, party and agitprop structures in our country, in our backyard. If nothing else, “some” can sigh for a moment and rejoice on the postponement of the elections, in conditions when they have their own people in strategic managerial positions in the government and in the system. But that is an opportunity more for leading an even dirtier propaganda that directly threatens the public health, but also the stability of the country.
The media and party bots, installed in strategic positions across the system and the public space, are tirelessly working on undermining citizens’ trust in the institutions and spreading as much as possible disinformation about the pandemic.
The continuous attacks on the system are noticeable, which well-known politicians and party media outlets are placing in the public every hour, day and night. For this purpose, they have millions of black money at their disposal. It’s enough to recall of the mega scandal of the Hungarian black money in the Macedonian media. That’s just one case that was discovered by Slovenian investigative journalists. We are yet to discover such scandals.
The axis is known, the boss is known, and Budapest is just a point on the black traversal. For now, we are lacking institutional response. But this does not prevent us from protecting ourselves. Recognizing the fake news and the disinformation that the Kremlin is dictating in the international public is equally important for the public health as is compliance to the measures for preventing the virus.
Complying to the measures, soap and disinfectant for prevention of coronavirus, and a little clear-headedness for prevention of disinformation – that’s the recipe.
We must become knowledgeable. There is a not at all a naïve war going on. It’s not just a local party agitation for “justice” (read: thirst for power and impunity for criminals). The pallet of that hybrid threat is broad, starting from pure propaganda speeches under the disguise of “we are not going to talk about politics, the people are what matters” and ending with the grotesque “concern for spring renovations”. It can clearly be seen that this shedding of crocodile tears for the people, no matter how local the ambitions are, is assisted from the global political, criminal and media underground that Putin is leading.
Translation: Natasa Cvetkovska
