Czech Republic Archives - Page 2 of 6

Telegram, the free zone for disinformation and conspiracies

Source: Josef Slerka / Midjourney

The online anonymous instant messaging app Telegram is now the main playing field for extremists, conspiracy theorists and information warfare. German language channels play an important role as an extreme opinion hub influencing the rest of Central and Eastern Europe.

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20.03.2023

Leaked files reveal panic at Russian-led bank in Budapest

finance, Russia, War in Ukraine

Illustration: Péter Somogyi (szarvas) / Telex

The Orbán government tried to help unfreeze the funds blocked by European authorities and tried to help the Russians avoid direct Western sanctions. Hacked emails expose the behind-the-scenes operations of the International Investment Bank

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13.03.2023

“Conspiracy-theory media outlets are like a sect,” says former staff writer

disinformation

Source: Lukáš Nechvátal / Investigace

How does a lover of critical thinking turn into someone who runs away from a so-called alternative media outlet once it becomes a disinformation channel?

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06.03.2023

Firehose of Falsehood

disinformation, War in Ukraine

The EU has imposed sanctions on Russian propaganda outlets, such as Russia Today and Sputnik News. But the Kremlin-directed official channels are just the tip of the iceberg.
There is a large ecosystem of pro-Kremlin and alt-right disinformation websites operating in Central and Eastern Europe.

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19.12.2022

Andrej Babiš’ questionable investment partner

corruption

Former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis stands trial for alleged EU subsidy fraud in Prague

Former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis arrives at his trial for alleged EU subsidy fraud at the Municipal Court in Prague, Czech Republic, September 12, 2022.,Source: David W. Cerny / Reuters / Forum

Since being ousted as prime minister in the 2021 Czech parliamentary elections, now-MP Andrej Babiš has made investments in Slovenia. Ten percent of Babiš’s Slovak partner is owned by Anna Bubeníková, who gained infamy for her role in the Gorilla corruption scandal.

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12.10.2022

Broadband in Europe: The Czech Republic lagging behind the rest of V4

The European Union has set 100 Mbps threshold by the end of 2025. Source: Gts / Shutterstock

Internet speed performance in Europe is continuously increasing, but many countries are still well below the 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) threshold that the European Union has set itself to achieve by the end of 2025, as shown by the data collected by the European Data Journalism Network.

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28.09.2022

Visegrad at the crossroads

Viktor Orban, War in Ukraine

Political,Map,Of,Europe,With,Flags,Of,Member,Countries,Of

Visegrad group. Source: michal812 / Shutterstock

How has the war in Ukraine changed the V4 and relations between its members? How have these countries managed the refugee crisis and what can we expect in the near future?

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22.09.2022

Ukrainian refugees in Hungary: Volunteers doing the government’s work

refugees, War in Ukraine

Budapest,,Hungary,-,March,5,,2022,,Ukraine,War,Refugees,Arriving

Ukraine war refugees arriving at railway station greeted by aid workers handing out food and supplies, Budapest, Hungary, 5 March 2022. Source: lithian / Shutterstock

Even though there are barely more than twenty thousand refugees from Ukraine in Hungary (as opposed to the government’s claims of hundreds of thousands, or over a million), the refugee care system is still crumbling.

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20.09.2022

NewsFront: From Crimea with hate

disinformation, propaganda, War in Ukraine

Source: ICJK

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as we found out, NewsFront has been playing a significant role in spreading anti-Ukrainian narratives in some Visegrad countries – especially in Slovakia. A complex redistribution scheme allows Kremlin propaganda to avoid bans and reach audiences in the region.

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10.08.2022

Shadow soldiers: who is supporting the Kremlin’s war in CEE

disinformation, propaganda

Russian,Propaganda,Or,Troll,Farm,Factory.,Cyber,Warfare,On,Laptop

Source: PHOTOCREO Michal Bednarek / Shitterstock

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has activated a broad media and movement network in support of the war effort in Central-Eastern Europe, which not many people are aware of.

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02.06.2022