VSQUARE SPECIAL REPORT
How Central Europe was trapped by Eastern input
Russian influencing strategies are like a swarm of bees: they consist of many small factors that don’t match one particular frame. VSquare Project report presents an analysis of Russian propaganda influencing, which turns out to be the main weapon used in a quiet information war.
Privet, you have just been hacked
For months now, someone has been hacking into the email and social media accounts used by Polish ministers, MPs, journalists and soldiers. Semi-nude photos of councillors, fake adverts on websites used by sex workers and news about a radioactive cloud that originated over Lithuania are being disseminated online. What do these attacks have in common?
Russian and Chinese vaccine diplomacy at work
Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic are once again showing disregard for European solidarity, negotiating deals for Eastern vaccines, even at the price of sparking government crises.
How ‘Putin’s Chef’ Prigozhin Is Now Targeting Europe
The Nuclear Influence. How Russia acts on the Central European energy market
30 years later after the fall of communism, Central Europe’s industries are connected to the West in innumerable ways. But signs that its nuclear industry continues to be heavily influenced by Russian interests are everywhere. Authors: András Szabó (Direkt36), Matej Gašparovič (ICJK), Hana Čápová, Eva Kubániová (investigace.cz), Graphics author: Lenka Matoušková In the Czech Republic, […]
Elections under the Polish and Russian watchful eyes
In November 2018, several Polish activists and journalists from a leftist website joined Russia’s CIS-EMO delegation on a trip to Madagascar to monitor the country’s presidential election. The group of observers included people with links to the Kremlin. Yet instead of acting as observers, they secretly funded the campaigns of several presidential candidates.
Inland, though Offshore. How Russia planned to secure its money
Many Western allies of Hungary are worried about Russia’s International Investment Bank (IIB) having moved its seat to Budapest. In the meantime the government of Hungary and IIB’s management are arguing that this is only a regular international bank and cannot even be categorized as ‘Russian.’ However, VSquare and its partners reveal how IIB’s head […]
Budapest. A welcoming gateway to Europe for a Russian bank
The management board of the Russian-led International Investment Bank (IIB) held its first meeting in its new headquarters, Budapest, this week. The move of IIB from Moscow to Budapest has been controversial since it was announced: experts, historians and the media have been worried that the bank would be a tool for the Kremlin to […]
German politician and Polish nationalists in the Kremlin’s service
A year after fire was set to a Hungarian minority center in Uzhhorod, Western Ukraine, new facts are coming to light: the operation by Polish nationalists was financed by people linked to the German AfD party, with strong ties to Moscow.
Slovenskí Branci: a military hobby or armed threat?
For at least seven years, an unofficial but yet uniformed paramilitary group has been recruiting young men in Slovakia. Minister of Defense filed a motion to inspect the legality of Slovenskí Branci’s activities because of military-like trainings with unclear goals, as well as possible abuse of military technology.
Martin Turček
Peter Sabo