Austrian State Protection Uncovers Russian Disinformation Campaign
The Bulgarian is suspected of having spied for Russia and being significantly involved in conducting a disinformation campaign directed from there, the Directorate of State Protection and Intelligence Service (DSN) announced in a press release on Monday.
Russian Disinformation Campaign Focused on Austria
The purpose of this covert campaign was to manipulate public and political opinion to the detriment of Ukraine and the advantage of Russia. "The spread of false narratives, fake news, and manipulative content undermines trust in our institutions and endangers social cohesion," responded State Secretary Jörg Leichtfried (SPÖ). The spread of disinformation has the potential to influence elections, promote political instability, and endanger democratic society. "We must not allow opinion formation in politics and the public to be controlled from outside. We Austrians prefer to form our own opinions."
The DSN discovered "this intelligence operation" through the evaluation of data carriers seized during a house search of the suspected Bulgarian in December of last year, it was further stated. Investigations revealed that just a few weeks after the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine in February 2022, "a cell working for the Russian intelligence service became active. This cell planned a large-scale disinformation campaign in German-speaking countries with a focus on Austria at the beginning of 2022."
The goal of this cell was to negatively influence public opinion against Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the context of the war events and thus - on a higher level - generate pro-Russian sentiment, the Interior Ministry further explained. "To achieve this, both activities in the media landscape on the internet and offline activism, such as through stickers or graffiti, were used." The visual and content design of these actions was intended to give the impression that pro-Ukrainian activists were the authors and originators. "Design and linguistic motifs that immediately meet with rejection in the general public, especially right-wing extremist symbolism and nationalist statements and codes," were used.
Suspect Confesses to Russian Disinformation Campaign
The evaluation of the secured data carriers of the suspected Bulgarian revealed the detailed planning of the cell controlled by Russia through chat messages. The suspect is believed to have played a significant role in this. According to current findings, she served as an intelligence contact person. Russian intelligence services are said to have further tasked her with distributing content in Germany and Austria. The suspect documented actions that took place. These documentations were also transmitted to accomplices who were residing in Russia and the United Kingdom. Recently, in a spectacular case of espionage for Russia in London, two women and a man from Bulgaria were found guilty. They allegedly acted on behalf of former Wirecard board member Jan Marsalek. The suspect has confessed to having worked for the cell, particularly in 2022, according to the ministry.
(APA/Red)
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