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Espreso Global russia fake news How pro-Kremlin media pushed a far-right agenda in EU elections

How pro-Kremlin media pushed a far-right agenda in EU elections

Iryna Vyhodyanska
5 September, 2024 Thursday
13:46
russia fake news

We have analyzed how pro-Russian media intensified efforts to influence the outcome of the June European elections by promoting far-right parties and Kremlin agendas across the continent

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In 2024, the voters in the EU member states elected a new European Parliament, as the EU has been facing unprecedented challenges in defense, enlargement, migration, and internal reform.

Using a mix of disinformation, propaganda, and social media manipulation, Kremlin-linked media and pro-Russian outlets in Europe made attempts to influence electors by exploiting societal divisions and undermining democratic processes, steering voters toward populist and far-right candidates, according to our study and several analytical reports (EDMO). This covert campaign aligns with the Kremlin's broader strategy to destabilize the EU and weaken its political cohesion.

Allegations of Russian interference in foreign elections are not new, dating back to at least 2016 concerning the EU and US presidential elections. In 2024, these concerns have intensified due to the significance of the European elections, the designation of new EU commissioners, and national and regional elections in several EU member states (Germany, France, Austria, Czechia, and others). 

An example of this is the Kremlin's disinformation campaign against Kaja Kallas after her nomination for the EU High Representative position. The campaign used a 1990s photo of Kallas to falsely suggest she had a privileged life during Soviet times, aiming to undermine her claims of Soviet repression against Estonia and her grandparents in particular. Russian state media and pro-Kremlin social media accounts disseminated this narrative in various languages, aiming to discredit her by misrepresenting her family's history under Soviet rule.

In June, the EU accused Russia of attempting to meddle in the EU Parliament elections, as reported by Reuters. European governments have criticized Russia for spreading disinformation using tactics such as deepfakes, fake websites, and pro-Russian influence operations.

In these elections, Russia’s disinformation campaign has evolved, focusing on tailored narratives to exploit current issues and divisions.

Media outlets as tools of political influence

  1. Voice of Europe

Voice of Europe was identified as a channel for alleged pro-Kremlin propaganda and disinformation within Europe. Established in its current form in early 2023, the Prague-based media outlet has been reported to focus on amplifying anti-EU, anti-migration, and pro-Russian narratives. While it presented itself as a legitimate news platform, concerns were raised about its role in spreading misinformation and influencing political discourse.

The website's origins have been linked to Viktor Medvedchuk, a former Ukrainian oligarch and ally of Putin, and Artem Marchevskyi, a media manager associated with Medvedchuk's previously banned pro-Russian TV channels in Ukraine. The investigation stated that their operations were funded by substantial financial contributions from Moscow, including cash and cryptocurrency, intended to impact European politicians and public opinion.

Investigations by the Czech authorities have suggested that Voice of Europe may be part of a broader Russian strategy aimed at disrupting European democracies and promoting pro-Kremlin views.

Currently, VoiceofEurope.com is under sanctions, with its website and YouTube channel shut down. Despite this, their Twitter account, @V_of_Europe, remains active. Following the ban in Europe, the voiceofeurope.com website was relocated to a server in Kazakhstan but did not continue its operations for a long time there.

  1. RT and Sputnik, in their English, French, and German versions

RT (Russia Today) is a Russian state-funded international television network established in 2005. RT has been noted for its coverage of geopolitical conflicts involving Russia and criticized for promoting pro-Kremlin viewpoints and spreading disinformation.

Sputnik, launched in 2014, is a Russian state-owned news agency and radio broadcaster. It focuses on international events, promoting Russian narratives and viewpoints. Similar to RT, Sputnik has faced criticism for spreading misinformation and promoting pro-Kremlin viewpoints, especially concerning geopolitical conflicts and Western policies.

Both RT and Sputnik have faced sanctions from several countries in response to their activities for disseminating disinformation. The EU sanctioned RT and Sputnik in March 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, for their support of Russia's war and spread of Kremlin disinformation. 

How RT and Sputnik continue their operations, produce Kremlin-style news content, and publish it on new domains (which are not banned), creating clones of their websites in different languages. For example, we have revealed several clones of the German edition of RT (de.rt.com).

  1. News websites targeting Russian speakers in Europe

Like other state-controlled Russian media outlets, RIA Novosti and Rossiyskaya Gazeta have been instrumental in influencing Russian-speaking populations in Europe. Russian government narratives and disinformation, which resonate particularly with Russian-speaking communities who may already have a strong cultural or emotional connection to Russia, often shape the outlet's content.

These outlets get millions of views in France, Germany, and other EU countries and are quoted as a reliable source by local pro-Russian outlets.

Cross-posting and sharing across various marginal and fringe outlets create an echo chamber that amplifies this effect. Multiple platforms replicate content, not only increasing its visibility but also creating a sense of legitimacy and consensus. These echo chambers can reinforce existing biases and amplify disinformation.

In May 2024, one month before the European Parliament elections, the EU introduced sanctions against the Russian news websites Ria.ru, Rg.ru, and Iz.ru.

How does alleged Russian interference manifest?

  1. Giving platform to far-right and anti-EU politicians

Analysis of the content and video interviews posted by Voice of Europe showed that they selectively promoted far-right, pro-Russian, and anti-EU politicians, including MEPs. The coverage was totally unbalanced in favor of politicians who fit the Kremlin's agenda and whom it would like to see elected.

Media outlets, such as Voice of Europe, have consistently presented far-right leaders in a favorable light. This includes interviews and positive articles about figures like Viktor Orbán, Marine Le Pen, Matteo Salvini, Maximilian Krah, Marcel de Graaff, and other right-wing radical leaders known for their anti-EU sentiments and pro-Russian narratives.

An investigation by Politico Europe has uncovered that 16 far-right MEPs participated in videos on the YouTube channel "Voice of Europe," despite it having only 351 subscribers and 60,000 views since last summer. 

The channel's content, particularly critical of Kyiv and Ukraine's EU membership prospects, has gained wider dissemination on social media. Between August 2023 and May 2024, Voice of Europe hosted several debates and individual interviews with various Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). The list includes:

  • Germany: Maximilian Krah, Joachim Kuhs
  • France: Patricia Chagnon, Thierry Mariani, Hervé Juvin
  • Netherlands: Marcel de Graaff
  • Italy: Matteo Gazzini, Francesca Donato
  • Slovakia: Miroslav Radacovsky, Milan Uhrík
  • Estonia: Jaak Madison
  • Spain: Hermann Tertsch, Jorge Buxadé
  • Croatia: Ladislav Ilcic
  • Denmark: Anders Vistisen
  • Belgium: Tom Vandendriessche

Many of these MEPs claimed not to recall how they were invited or who conducted the interviews. 

Russian propaganda media, RT and Sputnik, also prominently featured right-wing radicals who criticize mainstream politicians and undermine support for Ukraine.

  1. François Asselineau: Asselineau is known for his anti-globalization stance, conspiracy theories, and criticism of both the EU and the US. He is also recognized as a pro-Russian activist. According to Asselineau, Macron "sullies France's image and scorns the French" (Sputnik Africa, Monde25).
  2. Florian Philippot: Philippot, a right-wing radical and former campaign manager for Marine Le Pen, currently leads his own Patriots party. He has previously served as a member of the European Parliament. Philippot has shown a strong Ukrainophobic and pro-Russian stance. He criticized Macron's foreign policy, stating it "exasperates the French," and claimed that French governments no longer serve the people's needs or aspirations (Sputnik Afrique).
  3. Robert Fico: Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s remarks denouncing Western support for Ukraine to help the country defend itself against Russian invasion have been widely disseminated by RT and its various clone sites. Fico claims that the West is pushing for an escalation of the war rather than seeking peace with Russia. The story about Fico's criticism of the EU’s Ukraine policy was replicated across numerous clones of the banned RT website, such as RTDE, PresseFreiheit, and DeRT.

In contrast, they target politicians who support Ukraine and criticize their views. These media poured criticism against current governments and leaders, negatively portraying pro-EU, traditional, liberal parties. Analysis of the articles disseminated by Voice of Europe, Sputnik, RT, and other biased outlets showed constant criticism toward the EU and national governments and presented the far-right as an alternative, ranging from conspiracy theories to valid concerns of voters.

  1. The ongoing war in Ukraine is framed as a catalyst for Euroscepticism, with Russian media suggesting that the EU’s support for Ukraine is causing widespread dissatisfaction and electoral defeats for ruling parties. War reporter Laurent Brayard claims the war has become a critical issue, causing significant backlash against mainstream European politicians (Sputnik Afrique, Monde25).
  2. French analyst Xavier Moreau, based in Moscow, argues that Ukraine’s inevitable failure will also be seen as a failure for Brussels and Washington. He claims that European elites are ideologically and habitually subservient to Washington (Sputnik Afrique, Sputnik Afrique).
  3. Law professor Karine Béchet-Golovko accuses Ukraine of being completely subservient to NATO, framing Western intervention as the root cause of the ongoing struggle (Sputnik Afrique).
  4. Russian media also scrutinize and criticize pro-Ukraine figures like Raphaël Glucksmann, a prominent Socialist candidate in France. Glucksmann is labeled an “Atlanticist agent” and criticized for his support of Ukraine and his stance on global issues, which are portrayed as aligned with Western interests (RT, RT).
  5. The French political class is portrayed as deeply divided over Ukraine. The National Rally’s Jordan Bardella’s abstention from voting on France’s support plan for Ukraine is criticized by Florian Philippot as a sign of passivity and a reflection of broader discontent with Macron's policies (Sputnik Afrique, RT).
  6. French President Emmanuel Macron's proposal to send European troops to Ukraine was criticized as an attempt to escalate the conflict amid his domestic political struggles. Pro-Russian media depicted this proposal as a desperate move by “a politically weakened president” (Sputnik Afrique).

Following the publication of Russian state-affiliated media’s articles with these narratives, they were subsequently amplified by other sources. Below are examples of such articles and their amplification:

In some instances, there is a notable duplication of content across multiple platforms, particularly with clones of banned RT channels:

The accounts listed have been associated with promoting narratives that are critical of the EU and the current government, as well as supporting pro-Russian viewpoints:

  1. Amplifying anti-migrant sentiment

To influence the election outcome, propaganda media leveraged sensitive issues for European audiences. The analysis showed that these media outlets tried to influence public opinion through biased coverage of sensitive topics for Europeans. These media outlets hyperbolized negative events and supplemented them with falsehoods, particularly in the context of the migration crisis and the economy (energy prices and aid to Ukraine).

Pro-Russian media outlets have played a pivotal role in the spread of anti-migrant narratives throughout Europe. These outlets propagate hysteria surrounding refugees, often framing migration as an existential threat to European culture and stability. Current governments frequently face accusations of intentionally mismanaging the migrant crisis, and conspiracy theories suggest that migrants from Africa and Asia are deliberately "replacing" Europe's population.

One of the most vocal proponents of anti-migrant rhetoric is Voice of Europe. Since its first launch in 2018, the platform has been at the forefront of fueling anti-refugee sentiment. It regularly published alarmist content about migrants, accusing EU leaders of intentionally promoting mass migration to destabilize Europe. 

This narrative appears to align with efforts to bolster support for far-right parties, particularly in the lead-up to the European Parliament elections, where these parties positioned themselves as defenders of "traditional European values." The disinformation over the migration crisis intended amplifying racist and xenophobic sentiments.

Anti-immigration disinformation

  • "Europe is being taken over by migrants."
  • False stories portraying migrants as privileged in Europe.
  • Manipulations portraying migrants as violent and criminal.
  • Exaggerating consequences of Migration and Asylum Pact.
  • Disseminating false numbers about the migrants that EU member states will have to accept
  • Fake statistics: the number of homicides in France multiplied by 4 in 15 years.
  • Fake: A flood of migrants assaulting people on the streets of Sofia.
  • Conspiracy theories suggesting that the elites are carrying out a replacement of the European population.

By consistently reinforcing anti-migrant narratives, Voice of Europe has become a crucial conduit for far-right ideas. Despite the website's limited audience, social media platforms have widely quoted, reposted, and amplified its materials, with some garnering hundreds of thousands of views and engagements.

We have identified nearly 2,000 websites that crosspost articles from Voice of Europe. Among the most prominent are unicornriot.ninja, ddosecrets.com, and actright.com, which have been actively sharing its content.

The strategy of this platform relies on selectively framing stories of migrant crime or social disorder to incite public anxieties. Voice of Europe and other outlets have also taken advantage of real incidents involving migrants, often exaggerating or misrepresenting events to serve their narrative. The platform's coverage of isolated incidents of crime or violence involving migrants serves as a prime example of this tactic. Rather than portraying these isolated incidents as individual cases, the platform exaggerated them to imply a pervasive, systemic issue directly associated with liberal immigration policies.

In 2018, the media framed migrant attacks as a threat to public safety. Voice of Europe promoted the idea that governments were deliberately covering up these incidents to protect their pro-immigration agendas, magnifying cases of migrant involvement in petty crimes into national scandals.

Pro-Russian outlets such as Voice of Europe have particularly taken advantage of these opportunities to amplify migration fears. By cherry-picking cases that fit their narrative, they create the impression that migrant communities are inherently violent or criminal. These exaggerated reports contribute to a larger ecosystem of misinformation that destabilizes public trust and drives support for far-right policies aimed at curbing immigration.

What often goes unmentioned in these narratives is the role Russia has played in creating the very crises that drive migration. Russia directly fuels the conflicts that force people to flee their homes through its military involvement in Syria and support for military coups in African countries. Platforms like Voice of Europe rarely acknowledge this irony, preferring to demonize migrants instead of addressing the geopolitical factors that drive migration.

  1. Anti-Ukrainian disinformation

Pro-Kremlin websites spread fakes and manipulative materials targeting Ukraine and its leadership with an evident goal to defame the policies and decisions of the EU leadership and weaken aid to Ukraine. We have identified a list of fake news and manipulations spread by pro-Kremlin actors during the campaign.

Disinformation and manipulations to denigrate Ukraine

  • Manipulation claiming that "Russia is winning and Ukraine is losing."
  • Fakes that NATO troops are deployed in Ukraine and many French troops killed.
  • Disinformation about the inefficiency of Western weapons delivered to Ukraine.
  • Fake claim that the West is to blame for the war because it provoked Russia.
  • Fake claim that the West started the war to capture Russia’s natural resources.
  • Fake that the wife of the shooter attacking R.Fico is a Ukrainian refugee.
  • Propaganda video "To the Last Ukrainian" about military conscription.
  • Cartoon series about depicting Ukraine’s president Zelenskyy as the West's puppet waging war.
  • Fake that Volodymyr Zelensky is not legitimate after May 21.
  • Fake about "Childtrafficking in Ukraine managed by the First Lady.".
  • Fake that Zelensky ordered the murder of a foreign journalist.

Voice of Europe and its affiliated networks have been instrumental in advancing several key narrative which are all beneficial to Moscow.

  • Inevitability of Ukraine's defeat: One of the most prevalent messages is the notion that Ukraine's defeat is inevitable. This narrative is often bolstered by statements from right-wing radical politicians who appear on TV shows and interviews, presenting the idea that Ukraine is fighting a losing battle and that Western support is futile, e.g.:

  1. “A group of EU parliamentarians have sharply criticized Western Ukraine’s policies in a media-streamed discussion and called for a quick end to the war. The clearest statement came from a Dutch politician, reports RT.de.” “According to Southfront, “the first unit of the French Foreign Legion reportedly arrived in the area of the town of Slavyansk in the Donetsk People’s Republic.”

Link: https://dissident.one/frans-leger-ingezet-in-slavyansk-volksrepubliek-donetsk-rapport

  1. “MEP de Graaff: “The best way to achieve peace is to force the Ukrainians to capitulate.”

Link: https://freedomm.fr/blogs/60837/L-eurod%C3%A9put%C3%A9e-de-Graaff-La-meilleure-fa%C3% A7on-de-parvenir-%C3%A0

  1. “Ukraine will lose.”

Link: https://de.rt.com/europa/183622-eu-abgeordneter-de-graaff-bester-zum-frieden-ist-ukrainer-zur-kapitulation-zu-zwingen/

  1. “Scott Ritter: Time for the US to Dump Zelensky”

Link: https://sputnikglobe.com/20231112/scott-ritter-time-for-us-to-dump-zelensky-1114889912.html

  • Pointlessness of sanctions against Russia: Another recurring theme is the argument that sanctions imposed on Russia are ineffective. This perspective is advanced through pseudo-analytical materials and interviews that claim sanctions fail to achieve their intended goals, thereby justifying continued or increased support for Russia. The portrayal of sanctions as ineffectual serves to weaken the resolve of Western nations to maintain economic pressure on Russia.

“Serbia has received a sophisticated anti-aircraft system from Russia despite possible U.S. sanctions against the Balkan nation, which is formally seeking membership in the European Union.”

Link: https://reformy.cz/srbsko-drze-prebira-rusky-protiletecky-system-i-pres-hrozby-americkych-sankci-za-takovou-nezakonnou-impregnaci-proti-radnemu-humanitarnimu-bombardovani/

  • Need for talks with Russia: These networks frequently advocate for the necessity of negotiating with Russia. This message is often framed as a pragmatic and humanistic approach to resolving the situation, contrasting with the more aggressive stance of Western support for Ukraine. However, they don’t condemn the Russians for the illegal invasion, alleged war crimes, and do not demand Putin’s troops withdrawal from illegally occupied regions neither. 

  1. “Ukrainian Foreign Minister: We will do everything to silence the voices of peace!”

Link: https://magyarnemzet.hu/kulfold/2023/08/ukran-kulugyminiszter-mindent-megteszunk-hogy-elhallgattassuk-a-beke-hangjait

  1. “It is incredible how hard it is for the reality principle to make its way into the debate on Ukraine, tainted by the hybrid war of Atlanticist disinformation. In public, of course, because in private even the less stupid Atlanticists speak like the Pope: NATO and Kiev lost, Putin won, and, if there is no immediate negotiation, Russia can eat the rest of the country too.”

Link: https://www.ariannaeditrice.it/articoli/l-esercito-ucraino-sta-cedendo

  1. “Suddenly, the negotiations ended and Ukraine refused to discuss a deal with Russia any more. Most of the materials published in the press show that the reason was the discovery of the massacre in Bucea, blamed on the Russian army. Later, a number of high-ranking foreign officials, primarily former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, claimed that Zelenski changed his views not after the shock of the Bucea images, but after the visit of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Former Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says the same thing. "There are NATO states that want the war to continue, to let this war continue to weaken Russia," he said.”

Link: https://www.cotidianul.ro/ce-ar-putea-insemna-razboiul-cu-rusia-in-5-8-ani/

In all instances, the articles cite Voice of Europe.

Manipulation and disinformation targeting the EU leaders

  • Fakes depicting the EU as corrupt and anti-democratic.
  • Disinformation that national governments are ceding supremacy to EU legislation, exposing citizens to its authoritarian measures.
  • False stories portray EU membership as disadvantageous, claiming that the EU imposes unfair economic conditions and unreasonable bureaucracy on its member states.
  • False claims allege that the introduction of the euro in Croatia led to a doubling of prices.
  • Posts suggested European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has a family photo album containing a picture of her grandmother shaking hands with Adolf Hitler.

The main objective of these articles was to alter public opinion in EU countries, especially in the lead-up to European elections. They attempted to achieve this by featuring interviews with pro-Russian politicians and giving positive coverage to right-wing radicals and Eurosceptics. The content often distorted or selectively presented facts to support a specific agenda, frequently with the aim of misleading the public. Additionally, there was a tendency to criticize or denounce Western institutions and governments, depicting them as corrupt, negligent, or ineffective.

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