Europe

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/4335847

Archived version

In recent years, Georgian authorities have repeatedly and intensively accused the country’s Western partners, including the United States, European Union, and United Kingdom, of funding civil society organisations to organise revolutions and remove the authorities from power. These accusations are amplified by pro-government media outlets such as TV Imedi and POSTV, aiming to discredit pro-democracy actors, civil society, and undermine Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

A closer examination of these disinformation campaigns reveals an orchestrated effort led by the Russian foreign intelligence service SVR. The available evidence suggests that Georgian Dream and its primary propaganda platforms are effectively serving as instruments of Russian FIMI in Georgia. The cases outlined below demonstrate that Kremlin and Georgian Dream propaganda not only promote identical narratives but also deploy similar tactics, indicating not only a strong alignment of interests but also potential coordination.

These recurring accusations of Western interference are designed to erode public trust in Georgia’s international partners, paint the West as a destabilising force, and ultimately undermine the country’s European integration trajectory.

...

Strong alignment of the disinformation campaign between Russia’s intelligence services and Georgian propaganda media outlets reveals a clear pattern of coordination.

...

The overarching goal is to undermine public trust in democratic actors – civil society, opposition, and independent media – by branding them as agents of foreign subversion. Russia’s strategic aim is to sow anti-Western hostility, erode Georgia’s ties with its Western partners, and keep the country within Moscow’s sphere of influence.

High level Georgian authorities echo Russian disinformation narratives in verbatim. Moreover, Georgian state institutions, such as the State Security Service and Ministry of Internal Affairs, have been weaponised to legitimise and propagate false claims, which are then packaged and disseminated through affiliated media.

...

The Irish ambassador to Germany has been in contact with German authorities to express “concern” over an incident that saw an Irish protestor assaulted by police officers during a pro-Palestine demonstration in Berlin.

Footage shared on social media showed Irish activist Kitty O’Brien being punched in the face by police before being dragged away from the protest.

The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Maeve Collins, the Ambassador of Ireland to Germany, and senior officials in the Department “have conveyed our concern about the incident to German authorities”.

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/4310900

An unusually broad coalition composed of the United States, its traditional English-speaking allies and other nations including Germany, Italy and Japan is calling out three Chinese companies over alleged hacking activity.

In a 37-page advisory (open pdf) published on Wednesday, the countries accused the firms - Sichuan Juxinhe Network Technology, Beijing Huanyu Tianqiong Information Technology and Sichuan Zhixin Ruijie Network Technology - of providing "cyber-related products and services to China's intelligence services, including multiple units in the People’s Liberation Army and Ministry of State Security."

...

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/4308680

Archived

Homes seized from Ukrainian owners by Russian-installed authorities in occupied Donetsk Oblast will be resold illegally, the Center of National Resistance reported Aug. 27.

Russian-installed authorities on Ukraine's occupied territories regularly violate international law and norms. Ukrainian residents who continue to live under Russian occupation are being increasingly pressured to obtain Russian citizenship.

"All these 'deals' are legally null and void. Everyone involved in the sale of Ukrainian property will be held accountable," the CNR said in a Telegram post.

Russian-installed authorities in Donetsk Oblast previously announced plans to turn stolen housing into "big business" by the end of the year.

"Under the guise of 'creating jobs,' the occupiers are effectively legalizing looting. By 'state property,' they mean housing and enterprises taken from Ukrainians after the invasion," the CNR said.

[...]

Germany is bringing back a form of conscription to encourage more young people to become soldiers. But in some European countries, conscription never went away.

No Paywall