Devil’s (Putin’s) Dozen

Russian propagandists serve as Moscow's information weapon, facilitating the total indoctrination and intellectual regression of Russians by Putin's criminal regime. This has been made possible by their involvement in illegal activities. The Kremlin handpicked a pool of individuals, the "devil’s dozen", to lead the ideological front. Among the most “prominent” are Simonyan, Solovyov, Skabeeva, Popov, Sheinin, Kiselyov, and Keosayan, all of whom publicly called for the genocide of the Ukrainian people. Therefore, they are as guilty as Putin for Russia's war with Ukraine and should face arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

These propagandists have truly succeeded in morally corrupting Russian society for Putin, and the stability of the current chauvinist Russian government depends on their lies and misinformation. Anyone who observes the broadcasts of Russia's central channels can detect the sudden lack of enthusiasm in individuals chosen for the Russian information mount Olympus.

“These propagandists have truly succeeded in morally corrupting Russian society for Putin, and the stability of the current chauvinist Russian government depends on their lies and misinformation”

Solovyov, who frequently makes scandalous statements, failing to reach Zhirinovsky’s level, appears agitated and tense. Despite not often announcing the "quick defeat" of the Ukrainian army, he cannot contain his negative emotions, and he repeatedly scares Ukraine and the West with the prospect of nuclear Armageddon. His efforts to portray Russia as a force of Good turn out to be just as unconvincing as this, as he seems to not believe it himself.

Simonyan tries hard to present herself as a "refined intellectual" even though her statements are often untenable, but she pretends that only the "chosen" can understand her pompous speeches.

Skabeeva makes the most significant mistakes on TV, and her demeanor is no longer as cheerful as it was when she convinced gullible Muscovites that they would soon dine in Kyiv's restaurants on Khreshchatyk. Her face now shows all 50 shades of sadness for the failed victory of Putin's terrorist army, which will never happen. Like her colleagues, Olga Skabeeva would like to leave Russia and avoid accountability for her information crimes, but she has nowhere to go, and who will let her leave now?

“It appears that Putin's propaganda machine is aware of the actual state of affairs in Russia, but they are not permitted to discuss it on television but they seem unsure of what to do next. They are a mirror of Moscow's inevitable defeat”

It appears that Putin's propaganda machine is aware of the actual state of affairs in Russia, but they are not permitted to discuss it on television but they seem unsure of what to do next. They are a mirror of Moscow's inevitable defeat, and their expressions on television screens show their fear of what the future may hold for them. They are unwilling to accept that their luxurious and affluent lifestyle may soon come to an end.

While not all of them had the opportunity to learn from Valentin Zorin, the famous "political killer" on Soviet television, who was brought back to Russian television at the age of 90 by the regime, they were able to transform the former communist ideology into imperial supremacy, thus perfecting Putin's cult of personality and tyranny.

The non-alternative television has become a critical component of the Kremlin's information and psychological war against the West. The propagandists distort historical facts to present Russia as an entirely different civilization that resolutely fights against all the "negative manifestations" that the US and Europe pass off as civilizational progress. Therefore, the spiritual Russia cannot lose to the "forces of world evil."

“The propagandists distort historical facts to present Russia as an entirely different civilization that resolutely fights against all the "negative manifestations" that the US and Europe pass off as civilizational progress. Therefore, the spiritual Russia cannot lose to the "forces of world evil."”

Putin's ideology is adept at masquerading as the "objectivity" of TV presenters, who, like Valentin Zorin fifty years ago, lament the dire poverty that Americans and Europeans supposedly endure, all while claiming that it's due to America and Europe supporting Ukraine.

Despite using Cold War-era propaganda methods and information techniques, the Putin regime has made minor adjustments to modernize and adapt its tactics in the 21st century. By playing with the consumers of propaganda, the "devil’s dozen" on the ideological front creatively use new possibilities in our modern information environment, such as the Internet, satellite TV, traditional radio and TV broadcasting, social media platforms, bloggers, and amateur journalists. Additionally, Russian propagandists operate thousands of fake accounts on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LiveJournal, and VKontakte, which further broadens the reach of their disinformation.

Only after Putin's brutal regime falls will the true extent of the megatons of propaganda disinformation that they've spread worldwide be known. Nevertheless, it's evident that Moscow's propaganda machine produces its "product" in immense quantities and disseminates it through various communication channels. An army of internet trolls works tirelessly to engage in verbal battles on discussion forums and the comment sections of leading Western publications.

“Moscow's propaganda machine produces its "product" in immense quantities and disseminates it through various communication channels. An army of internet trolls works tirelessly to engage in verbal battles on discussion forums and the comment sections of leading Western publications”

Russian propaganda operates aggressively, assertively, and continuously. They do not need to present an accurate or truthful representation of objective reality, allowing Moscow propagandists to promptly spread their interpretation of events that best serves the themes and goals set by the Kremlin. As a result, they are often the first to broadcast "news" about events or decisions that did not happen or were exaggerated.

It was Russia's long-standing information war with Ukraine and the Western world that motivated Putin to invade Ukraine. The dictator and his supporters began to believe in the propaganda fictions and nonsensical stories they had been producing for the past two decades. It is beyond dispute that the propagandists who fueled the population with the need for war are war criminals and should be held fully accountable for their actions.

“It was Russia's long-standing information war with Ukraine and the Western world that motivated Putin to invade Ukraine. The dictator and his supporters began to believe in the propaganda fictions and nonsensical stories they had been producing for the past two decades.”

Following the recent killing of Vladlen Tatarsky, an information manipulator, in St. Petersburg, Russia's top propagandists are now anxious about who might be the next target. As Russia fails in Ukraine, Putin's regime might find it more beneficial to eliminate them before they have the chance to reveal classified information to the International Criminal Court in The Hague. These propagandists possess a wealth of knowledge that the Kremlin would prefer to keep secret forever.

A unique opportunity arises to assist individuals such as Skabeeva, Solovyov, or Simonyan to escape to the West. It would be a significant blow to Putin's propaganda machinery if they were to disclose the Kremlin's disinformation tactics on prominent news networks such as BBC or CNN, given their extensive involvement in the process.

It is essential to inform Putin's top propagandists that they are now essentially “on the list”. They need to think about their future to avoid being caught.

The dictator is willing to do whatever it takes to maintain his hold on Russia. Army generals who fail in the war and propagandists who lose the information war will be eliminated.

Those who manage to leave Putin's propaganda machine at the last minute will have a considerable chance of receiving a pardon. They can give evidence to The Hague court, not as defendants but as witnesses of the Putin regime's propaganda crimes.

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About the author. Viktor Kaspruk, journalist

The editors do not always share the opinions expressed by the blog authors.