Political leaders and civil society must act to counter ideological subversion—the full list of Russian-paid actors must be made public
Dietmar Pichler, Director of the Disinfo Resilience Network Vienna: Moscow has been infiltrating liberal democracies for decades, focusing not only on information outflows (espionage) but also on information inflows (pro-Russian propaganda). Liberal democracies, as well as countries aligned with Russia, are both targets of Russian propaganda, subversive activities, and infiltration. These activities cross borders, and the very foundation of fact-based debate is at risk if these covert efforts are not brought to light. There is also an urgent need to understand that ideological subversion, disinformation, propaganda, and pro-Russian narratives are not limited to social media or online platforms. Traditional methods of disseminating them are still in practice and, in many cases, happen below the radar of our institutions.
Recent revelations in the United States show that the Russian propaganda machine specifically targets “influencers,” often using sponsorships to sway public opinion. Yet, many names on these sponsorship lists remain hidden. This lack of transparency hides the true scale of Russia’s operations and makes it harder to fight these networks. Full disclosure is urgently needed to understand and disrupt these networks. It is critical to reveal who is receiving money from Russian proxies and who has been singled out by the Kremlin-linked “Social Design Agency” as a key person for pushing narratives that match Moscow’s goals. The complete list of Russian-paid actors must be made public to show their roles and stop the further manipulation of public views.
This strategy is a continuation of the “Active Measures” used during the Soviet era—a broad set of tactics to serve Moscow’s goals. Other regimes, often working with Russia, also use these methods, recruiting and paying so-called “agents of influence” in liberal democracies. Not all of those who spread Russian narratives are directly or indirectly financed by the Kremlin; sometimes they are driven by their own ideological beliefs.
These Kremlin-friendly viewpoints are often pushed by “experts” with a clear bias, politicians, and sometimes even celebrities without any relevant knowledge. These views appear regularly on talk shows, in opinion columns, books, and at various public events. In academic settings, many professors have ties to Russian or Chinese state media outlets and, in some cases, even receive payments for their editorial contributions. These individuals are especially dangerous for the information environment because, unlike anonymous social media trolls, people tend to trust “respected professors” with supposed “distinguished expertise.”
In some cases, even the idea of “peace” is twisted to downplay Russia’s responsibility and shift blame equally, or even entirely, to liberal democracies and Ukraine for the ongoing war. The claim that supporting Ukraine’s right to defend itself makes one “pro-war” or a “warmonger” is a recurring narrative that conveniently ignores the aggressive nature of Russian expansion. Individuals who have previously appeared on Russian state-sponsored propaganda channels often show up at conferences and rallies that are supposedly focused on “peace.”
About the Organization:
The Disinfo Resilience Network, founded by Dietmar Pichler, serves as a platform for experts in journalism, security, and academia to share insights on
disinformation, propaganda, and the impact of foreign interference by authoritarian regimes. For more information, visit: www.disinforesilience.eu
Press Contact & Author:
Dietmar Pichler
Email: d.pichler@borsh.eu