Publications

* * * * * * Egypt, situated in a strategic location at the crossroads of Africa and the Middle East, has long been a pivotal reference point for various political and social initiatives. Due to its geopolitical significance, the country has found itself at the centre of complex and often competing propaganda efforts aimed at shaping public opinion towards distrust of the West and democratic values. Here, the influences of global powers such as Russia and China, striving to strengthen their positions in the region, collide with those of traditional Western allies who continue to play a significant role in Egypt’s politics and economy. At the same time, Egyptian society, having been shaped over the years by external influences and numerous internal tensions, demonstrates…

* * * * * * Egypt as a Target of Russia’s and China’s Information Operations During the analyzed period (September–December 2024), the Egyptian information environment was marked by intense propaganda and disinformation activities by Russia, alongside a more subtle but consistent presence by China. These actions aimed to influence Egyptian public opinion, political elites, as well as regional and international audiences. The main vector of influence was an attempt to portray Russia and China as stable partners promoting an alternative global order, opposing Western dominance, while simultaneously undermining the credibility and intentions of Western countries, including Poland, NATO, and the United States. The analysis demonstrates that Egypt represents a key arena for informational penetration by these powers due to its strategic location, economic significance,…

* * * * * * Debunking Russian Narratives on Neocolonialism: An Analysis for MENA Countries Russian propaganda in the MENA region, particularly in media and diplomatic spaces such as the Russian embassy’s website in Cairo, promotes narratives of a “struggle against neocolonialism” to position Russia as a defender of global justice. This rhetoric often centers on criticizing Western powers—namely the United States, France, and the United Kingdom—blaming them for historical and contemporary colonial crimes. This article juxtaposes Russian narratives with historical truths, exposing Moscow’s hypocrisy and its actual role in colonial and imperial systems, both in the past and in the present. Russia and the Berlin Conference: Concealed Responsibility for Colonialism Russia was an active participant in the Berlin Conference (1884–1885), during which European…

* * * * * * For some time now, Russia has been trying to link Ukraine and the West with jihadists in its narrative, in order to accuse them of supporting terrorism. In doing so, Russia relies on the mechanism described in Vladimir Volkoff’s theory of disinformation, exploiting the poor knowledge of a large part of Western public opinion about the Middle East and its fully justified negative assessment of Russia’s role. The idea is to use the critical attitude towards Russia to propagate a narrative that seemingly attacks Russia (“Russia is losing”), but in fact supports the Russian narrative (“Russia is defending Syria from jihadists supported by Ukraine and the West” – the main theme of the Russian narrative). The target group of…

* * * * * * Disinformation in the Lebanese information space after the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel – examples The ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, and especially the ceasefire signed on November 27, 2024, is associated with many unknowns. On the one hand, the messages addressed to the Lebanese were full of hope and encouraged to return home, especially after reaching an agreement. On the other hand, almost at the same time, the media reported new attacks and violations of the ceasefire by both sides. EXAMPLES OF DISINFORMATION ACTIVITIES: 1. A photo appeared on social media showing an Israeli helicopter allegedly shot down in the Al-Khiyam area in southern Lebanon. According to the posts, the helicopter was supposed to be transporting several…

  Russian ambassador Elbrus Kutrashev told Iraqi Shiite Al-Ahad television that his country does not believe in the intentions of American President-elect Donald Trump to end the Ukrainian-Russian war. In an interview for the program “Before Tomorrow,” Kutrashev stated that Trump’s statements during the election campaign indicate that he wants changes, but “America is a country with a powerful lobby that imposes its will on the president.” He added that “internal pressures forced Trump to take hostile steps against Russia,” noting at the same time that “Trump wants to stop the Russian-Ukrainian war.” In his opinion, “American lobbyists, selling weapons and gas, are benefiting from the economic weakening of Europe.” He also said that “some American circles want to destroy Russian-European relations” and that “the…

Disinformation about NATO’s Intervention in Belarus and “Defending Ukraine from Poland” – Elements of Russia’s Coherent Propaganda Strategy In recent weeks, Russian informational propaganda has intensified efforts aimed at destabilizing relations between NATO, Poland, Ukraine, and neighboring countries. Two recent narratives—namely, the alleged NATO intervention plan in Belarus from the territories of Poland, Lithuania, and Ukraine, and the narrative about Russia and Belarus “defending Ukraine” from Polish aggression—constitute part of a broader disinformation strategy. Such messages are widely disseminated both in Europe and the MENA region, where Russia has for years effectively manipulated public opinion, portraying itself as a counterbalance to the West. Narrative 1: NATO “Attacking Belarus” The narrative about an alleged planned NATO intervention in southwestern Belarus has been spread by Russian state…

The installation of the missile defense system in Redzikowo has been, and continues to be, a target of Russian propaganda attacks. The latest iterations rely on disinformation and issuing threats against Poland. Below, we outline selected narratives used in recent days by Russian propaganda. A significant role in these activities has been played by operatives of the influence apparatus—so-called “military experts,” whose statements were promoted through propaganda outreach channels. Current Lines of Persuasion: 🔴 The missile defense system is aimed at undermining Russia’s security.🔴 The base in Redzikowo threatens Poland’s security, leaves Russia no choice, and invites the risk of nuclear retaliation.🔴 True Poles are being forced into subjugation under American dominance. The base in Redzikowo symbolizes the loss of Poland’s sovereignty.🔴 The base is…

In early November 2024, posts appeared on Arabic-language propaganda accounts promoting Russian narratives. These posts suggested that Poland, followed by Bulgaria and Austria, had agreed to pay for Russian gas in rubles. According to these claims, the European Commission allegedly authorized EU member states to purchase gas in Russian currency amidst a so-called crisis. However, this information referred to past events, specifically April 2022, when Russia indeed halted gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria due to their refusal to pay in rubles. In reality, since then, Poland and Bulgaria have significantly reduced their dependence on Russian gas by investing in alternative energy sources. Why, then, has this narrative resurfaced? What objective does the Kremlin aim to achieve by portraying historical events as current facts? This…