The Visegrad Countries and “Post-Truth” Who Is Responsible for Delivering the Kremlin’S Narrative to the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland?

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Policy Brief | 06.2017

The Visegrad Countries and “Post-Truth” Who is Responsible for Delivering the Kremlin’s Narrative to the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland?

Łukasz Wenerski

Introduction style propaganda. On the contrary, the Russian propaganda machine has been The Russian Federation’s disinformation operating for years. The Kremlin had never campaign, implemented to justify its really decided to drop it entirely, and by aggressive policy towards Ukraine, has implementing new methods and tools (such made many analysts, politicians and regular as social media), propaganda has evolved citizens aware that the Kremlin has been to a whole new level. deliberately and cleverly exploiting propaganda mechanisms for its own The Kremlin’s disinformation methods create purposes. Incidents and occurrences such an effective model of geopolitical influence. as the Crimean annexation propaganda and Russian propaganda distorts the perception the war in Donbas have led to the eye- of people, events and even entire institutions opening conclusion that the Kremlin’s (the EU, NATO). The results are impressive: activities are not a return to typical Soviet- propaganda has created an alternative

The Visegrad Countries and “Post-Truth“ | page 2 version of events at the Euromaidan (the Poland seizure of power by fascists), the war in In general, the Russian narrative does not Donbas (internal conflict in Ukraine) and have a substantial influence on the views of Syria (Americans supporting ISIS to mainstream Polish politicians and the media, eliminate Bashar al-Assad). This and consequently, on society. More disinformation destabilizes the political specifically, it fails to generate positive situation in many countries by supporting attitudes toward the Kremlin’s domestic and one political faction and simultaneously foreign policies, and toward Vladimir Putin in discrediting others. Recent cases included particular. It has also failed in convincing the presidential elections in the United Poles en masse that Russia is not to be States and France, as well as the blamed for the conflict in Ukraine. parliamentary elections in the Netherlands. Similar disinformation campaigns are Due to the fact that Russian propaganda expected for the German parliamentary cannot make any significant progress in elections later this year. improving the image of Putin or Russia among Poles, improving the Kremlin’s image The following report describes Russian is not high on Russia’s agenda. Instead, the disinformation in the Visegrad countries. priority lies in introducing and moderating The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and topics which, at first glance, might not seem Slovakia, all formerly part of the Eastern to have anything to do with Russia, but Bloc, have all become the targets and which ultimately serve to strengthen victims of the Kremlin’s information warfare. Russia’s position in the region and weaken Putin’s regime exploits various narratives to Poland’s by provoking internal arguments achieve its goals in the Visegrad countries. It within society and tensions with neighboring elicits hatred towards the EU, USA and countries. Polish-Ukrainian relations are the NATO, encourages conflict with bordering number one topic being exploited as part of nations and perpetuates the negative image the general Russian media strategy in of the “other” (the Roma minority, Poland after the Crimean conflict. Though Ukrainians, refugees). complex, the Russian narrative tries to The text of this policy brief presents the reduce those relations to the level of main narratives of the Kremlin’s propaganda primitive disputes revolving around historical among the Visegrad countries, but first and guilt and the way that historical differences foremost, it reveals important entities surface today. The Russian narrative also (people and organizations) that stand behind attacks Ukrainian migration to Poland, the Kremlin’s narrative in each of the threatening Poles with Ukrainians taking respective countries. Although some of them their jobs and causing wage stagnation. may, indeed, be Moscow agents, many Other topics include anti-Americanism, simply follow the Kremlin’s agenda because criticism of NATO and the EU and they actually believe the propaganda that resentment towards Germany. they share and/or create. The people, political parties, NGOs, paramilitary movements and media mentioned in this Politics report do not constitute the full list of entities The pro-Russian narrative in the Polish that may be considered pro-Russian. In political system is mostly present outside the many cases, however, they are among the Polish parliament. The most obvious most recognizable ones. example of Russian influence is the work of the Change (Zmiana) party. The self-

The Visegrad Countries and “Post-Truth“ | page 3 proclaimed (on its website) “first non- Russia, and even considers Ramzan American political party” (the Polish court Kadyrov, leader of the Chechen Republic, to has not allowed it to register as a political be a “reasonable person” with liberal party) was established by Mateusz economic views – which are always Piskorski, a former member of the Polish appreciated in Korwin-Mikke’s political parliament from the Self-Defence party environment. He is not considered an agent (Samoobrona). Piskorski aligned himself of the Kremlin or a monetary beneficiary of closely with the Kremlin’s agenda during the Russia, but his political views in many cases Crimean conflict. As he stated in 2014: perfectly reflect Russia’s standpoints. [Ukraine] is a collapsed state. Once the West, including Poland, backed Organizations and paramilitary Bandera’s supporters in Ukraine, the country was thrown into chaos […] The movements people of Crimea have been pro-Russian The pro-Russian narrative is propagated in for a long time, and they are afraid of the Poland by organizations that operate on Banderists. We should be afraid as well. many levels to communicate with their Piskorski became very popular in the audiences. The European Center of Russian media and was invited under Geopolitical Analysis (ECAG) is a Polish friendly circumstances as a prominent Polish think tank that has repeatedly been accused politician or political expert to comment on of propagating the Russian narrative in events in Ukraine from a “Polish” Poland. The recent “Laundromat” scandal perspective. He also participated in revealed that ECAG received €27,685 from monitoring the election in Crimea. In May the UK company Crystalord Limited for 2016, Piskorski was detained by Polish “consulting services,” proving a direct prosecutors under the suspicion of spying financial link between Russian stakeholders for Russia and possibly China. (or “dirty money”) and the organization’s activity between 2012 and 2014. Members Another figure representing a pro-Russian narrative is Janusz Korwin-Mikke, MEP of ECAG organized or participated in and the leader of the Freedom party. In the monitoring missions in the unrecognized republics of Abkhazia, Ossetia, Transnistria, last election, Freedom (at the time known as and Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as in KORWiN) received 4.76% of the vote, only Belarus and Syria, countries governed by 0.24% away from entering the Polish authoritarian regimes. In 2011, ECAG parliament. Korwin-Mikke, as a member of members (including Piskorski) visited Libya the European Parliament, has libertarian and took part in a propagandist conference economic views and strong anti-EU organized by Muammar Gaddafi. In 2013, sentiments. He openly claims that his they went to Syria (on the invitation of the mission in the European Parliament is to Assad regime) to monitor the civil war destroy the European Union. When it comes situation in the country. Officially to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Korwin-Mikke representing ECAG, Piskorski gave supports the annexation of Crimea. He also interviews to the Russian media in which he considers Ukraine to be a threat and an attempted to convince the Russian audience enemy of Poland, while claiming that that the Euromaidan was a provocation by Russia, “being an enemy of our enemy (i.e., Ukraine), is now our ally.” Korwin-Mikke has Western politicians and NGOs. expressed his positive attitude towards Putin Outside of the mainstream, numerous fringe by claiming that he is a great leader for organizations also spread the Russian

The Visegrad Countries and “Post-Truth“ | page 4 narrative in Poland. Most of these groups political scene. Praising not only communist are ideologically far-right, though some Poland, but even Stalinism in the Soviet extreme-left groups exist as well. Union, this organization tends to represent a fringe ideology that has extremely little Falanga is a Polish organization that took its support among Poles. However, the name from the Polish fascist movement that Communist Youth of Poland were also existed in Poland before the Second World among the founding members of the War. Falanga is notable for its anti-NATO Change political party. The only potentially views, including its stance against deploying noteworthy member of the organization is NATO or US troops in Poland. The head of Ludmiła Dobrzyniecka, leader of the group. the organization is Bartosz Bekier, who used She holds a favorable view of Stalin’s to visit the occupied territories in Donbas dictatorship and sees him as a great leader. presenting himself as a journalist who Most importantly, Dobrzyniecka has left strongly supported the separatists. Some of Poland to fight in Donbas on the side of pro- his actions include giving a speech at a rally Russian separatists in the Luhansk People's in Donetsk back in 2014, in which he Republic. She is currently a member of the claimed to represent “free Poles who are Interunit international brigade. against the ‘terrorist’ NATO bases in Poland.” He protested at the Ukrainian embassy in Warsaw surrounded by flags of Media the DNR and the LNR, boasting the slogan “Save the people of Novorossiya from the Facebook and other designated websites Ukrainian army.” Falanga has a quasi- are the main channels used to reach the paralimitary unit with which it organized anti- Polish audience. Usually, the media that Banderist patrols along the Polish border. support the Russian narrative devote Volunteers from Falanga, dressed like fully considerable attention and space to articles equipped soldiers, were of particular interest related to Ukraine. Other issues are to the Russian propaganda machine; their exploited to a lesser extent, but are still patrols were presented on the pro-Kremlin covered in order to make sure that the NTV channel as an example of Polish fear of reader notices that the authors contest Ukrainian fascism. liberalism and the modern-day world order in general. The Camp of Great Poland (OWP) is another organization that references a pre- The most high-profile website considered to war nationalist movement. The organization present the Russian narrative is Kresy.pl, is strongly opposed to mainstream politics which displays strong anti-Ukrainian and is most notable for its anti-Ukrainian attitudes based on historic resentment. actions. Dawid Hudziec, a journalist working Another openly pro-Russian page is in occupied Donbas for the Novorossia Xportal, established by Bartosz Bekier, who Today news blog, was a member of OWP. is also a leader of far-right Falanga. In September of 2015, head of OWP Dawid Novorossiya Today, Tragedy of Donbas Berezicki was banned by President Petro (both websites) and Fighting Novorossiya Poroshenko from entering the territory of (a Facebook page) are some other fringe Ukraine, as was Dawid Hudziec. In January media outlets fueled by Russian of 2016, OWP co-organized a propagandist propaganda. All of them are edited by Dawid trip to Crimea and Moscow. Hudziec, affiliate of the Camp of Great Poland, who now works as a journalist in The Communist Youth of Poland occupied Donbas. Another interesting represents the far-left on the spectrum of the

The Visegrad Countries and “Post-Truth“ | page 5 example is Tomasz Maciejczuk, who Arseniy Yatseniyk, former prime minister of underwent a conversion from “pro-Ukrainian Ukraine, was a “prime minister of war.” In journalist” to “Ukrainian fascist hunter.” 2015, Zeman was the only EU president Some time ago, he announced his new post who visited Moscow to commemorate the as a regular contributor to the Russian anniversary of the end of the Second World television channel Rossiya 24. War. Zeman’s views are echoed and amplified in the Czech parliament by the Freedom and Czech Republic Direct Democracy party (Svoboda a přímá The Czech Republic’s official position does demokracie, SPD). In many respects, SPD not differ from the political mainstream is a textbook example of a Eurosceptic regarding views on the war in Ukraine or party. SPD tried to call a referendum to Russia’s influence on the conflict in Donbas. withdraw the Czech Republic from the EU After the annexation of Crimea, Czech but failed to receive support for it in the deputies issued a statement condemning Czech parliament. The party leader, Tomio the decision of the authorities of the Russian Okamura, has a much more positive stance Federation. In a resolution approved by 121 towards Russian than towards the EU or deputies, the annexation was recognized as NATO. Regarding the war in Ukraine, he an act of violence against Ukraine. consistently denies Russia’s involvement in Additionally, the Czech Republic officially the conflict – in fact, Okamura sees the supports the EU’s sanction policies towards conflict as a civil war provoked by the USA Russia. and the EU. Consistent with their political However, the status of Russian influence in views Okamura and SPD disapprove of the the Czech Republic remains very peculiar. sanctions imposed on Russia. The pro-Russian narrative maintains Beyond the mainstream, the Kremlin’s representation on various levels of politics narrative is also represented by the far-right and the media, from mainstream National Democracy party (Národní organizations to fringe ones. The Russian demokracie, ND). This party presents not narrative is spread by a small, yet loud and only pro-Kremlin views, but also strong anti- visible minority. The most recognizable pro- Semitism. When Russia annexed Crimea in Kremlin influencer in the Czech Republic is March 2014, ND decided to send a letter to Miloš Zeman, president of the country. His the Russian Embassy in the Czech stance on Russia, characterized mostly by Republic. The letter expressed support for his expressing “understanding” of the Vladimir Putin and his policies and Kremlin’s foreign policy, is backed by welcomed Russia’s efforts in the interest of political parties (mainstream and fringe) and ensuring order and stability in Ukraine. Later various media outlets. the same year, the deputy chairman of ND visited Donbas under occupation in order to take part in an electoral observation mission Politics and was subsequently declared a persona Miloš Zeman, president of the Czech non grata by the Ukrainian authorities. Republic, is considered a pro-Russian agenda setter in the Czech political mainstream. His notorious pro-Kremlin Organizations and paramilitary statements include claims that Crimea movements cannot be returned to Ukraine and that

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Pro-Russian political activities are supported war against Russia. It also objects to all through the work of various non- attempts to blame Russia for the situation in governmental organizations. Arguably, the Ukraine and labels the current Ukrainian most recognizable example is the government as fascist and illegal. Another “Consulate” of the Donetsk People’s paramilitary organization is the National Republic that opened in the Czech Republic Home Guard (Národní domobrana), in September 2016. Since Prague does not established in affiliation with the National officially recognize the DNR, the “Consulate” Democracy party. Nela Liskova, self- is in fact a Czech NGO. Nela Liskova, who proclaimed “honorary consul” of DNR in the has connections with the Freedom and Czech Republic is a member of the National Direct Democracy party, is the head of the Home Guard. NGO and a self-described “honorary consul” of the DNR in the Czech Republic. Media The Institute of Slavic Strategic Studies is a Czech NGO that identifies strongly with The Russian narrative is featured mainly on the Pan-Slavic movement. The Institute social media and in other areas of the mostly promotes pro-Russian opinions, internet. It focuses primarily on attacking the while criticizing the EU and the US. Articles EU, NATO, the US or Ukraine, while to a published by the organization claim that the lesser extent also promoting a positive Americans are threatening Russia with image of Russia. The main propagators of terrorist attacks, that the real terrorists are the Kremlin’s narrative are Our Media, European and Czech governors, and that which runs several disinformation projects, the US is responsible for the terrorist attacks including the Parliamentary Sheets in France. Some events of the Institute have (Parlamentní listy) website; AC24.cz, been co-organized by the Freedom and which promotes the Kremlin's point of view Direct Democracy party. on international events, often referencing non-existent documents or reports from the The Czech-Moravian Slavic Association Russian Ministry of Defense or other official represents a peculiar mutation of bodies; and Sputnik Czech Republic. communist-nationalist ideology. As with the previous group, the main ideology that stands behind the organization is Pan- Slovakia Slavism. The organization supports Kremlin policy because it is considered to be pro- Slovakia appears to be one of the prime Slavic, while the Ukrainian government targets of Russian influence. Based on represents anti-Slavic resentment. The “Pan-Slavic” resentment, which has found Czech-Moravian Slavic Association fertile ground in Slovakia, the Kremlin cooperates with the Institute of Slavic narrative has influenced a considerable Strategic Studies. number of entities, including a political party represented in the parliament and There are also paramilitary groups in the recognized media. Among the Central Czech Republic that promote the Russian European countries, the Slovakian narrative. Czechoslovak Soldiers in government is considered “dovish” with Reserves (Českoslovenští vojáci v regard to the level of its criticism of Russia záloze, CSR) opposes the policies of the for annexation of Crimea and its Slovak and Czech authorities, who are engagement in the war in Donbas, as deemed to be servants to the EU and USA. opposed to the “hawkish” Baltic States and CSR believes that NATO is preparing for

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Poland. Prime Minister Robert Fico has part of the party’s political campaign for the been one of the most outspoken critics of 2016 national parliamentary elections. the sanctions that were imposed on Russia During the campaign, L’SNS published their back in 2014. Yet, when it comes to practical program – Ten points for our Slovakia. The policymaking, the Slovakian government program called NATO a “criminal pact which adheres to the European mainstream, serves to promote the power interests of the whose official policy is to keep sanctions USA” and called for ending cooperation with and support the territorial integrity of the West and instead introducing a balanced Ukraine. The success of the Kremlin cooperation with all the countries of the narrative in Slovakia is, however, world. undeniable, with an openly anti-Western and The leaders of L’SNS are known for pro-Russian political party currently holding presenting opinions that are similar to views seats in the parliament and the country popular in Kremlin circles. In January 2014, witnessing a tremendous growth in Marian Kotleba, then acting governor of paramilitary movements inclined towards the Banska Bystryca, sent a letter to Viktor Kremlin’s world view. Yanukovych backing his actions during the Euromajdan. He called the protesters “terrorists” and said the real reason behind Politics the conflict is the EU’s greed for new The Kremlin has found a perfect partner for markets and NATO’s pushing its military furthering its narrative in Slovakia in the far- closer to the border of the Russian right People’s Party our Slovakia (L’SNS). Federation. Led by Marian Kotleba, a former school This hatred of the EU and NATO was teacher and governor of Banska Bystryca, reiterated once more in October 2016, when L’SNS has been present in the Slovakian L’SNS organized signature collections for a parliament since 2016, when it won 8% of referendum to withdraw Slovakia from the the popular vote. The popularity of the party EU and NATO. raises serious concern among the Slovakian elite, as well as among many regular The extremist policy of L’SNS has been Slovaks, who see the party as a neo-fascist recently addressed by the Prosecutor movement. The opponents of L’SNS have General, who asked the Slovakian Supreme plenty of evidence to support this view. Court to ban the party, accusing it of Marian Kotleba himself praises Josef Tiso infringement of the constitution and trying to and the First Slovak Republic. Among the destroy the country’s democratic system. L’SNS membership, one can find people who have praised Adolf Hitler and Nazism, Holocaust deniers and people who have Organizations and paramilitary been investigated and prosecuted for movements criminal offences motivated by racial hatred, The strong position of paramilitary especially against the Roma minority. movements is evident in Slovakia. They L’SNS’s anti-Western attitude is crystal represent a wide spectrum of political views, clear. Kotleba and other members of the with some leaning toward right-wing party see the European Union and NATO as positions and others toward the left side of threats to national sovereignty. Members of the political scene. There is, however, one the party spout strong criticism of these thing that unifies them – strong connections institutions on a regular basis – this was also

The Visegrad Countries and “Post-Truth“ | page 8 with Russia, represented by ideological L’SNS’s list. VK strongly disapproves of connections, personal connections or both. current Slovak-Russian relations. The group has called upon its supporters to take active Slovak Conscripts (Slovenskí branci – measures – including infiltrating the army SB) is a paramilitary movement established and politics and even using weapons in 2012 along the lines of the image and against incumbent politicians – to change standards of Russian military-patriotic clubs. national policy and prevent Slovak-Russian The organization was launched by Slovak tensions, which they say have a catastrophic students who had participated in paramilitary influence on Slovakia. courses in Russia and decided to mirror their Russian training in their home country. Slovak Soldiers’ Association (Asociácia The SB network has been growing fairly slovenských vojakov – ASV) is a civilian- quickly – at the end of 2016, they already military organization established in 1991. had 17 territorial units with approximately After a number of years “in limbo,” it was 150 members. relaunched in 2015. The organization has attracted mainly retired Slovak officers and The organization considers itself apolitical, has been quickly recognized as an but is usually associated with an “anti- institution that is critical of NATO. fascist” stance. They perceive the Second World War as a historical struggle against ASV believes the North Atlantic Treaty fascism and Nazism and distance Organization is increasingly becoming a tool themselves from wartime Slovakia and Josef for the American and European elites’ Tiso. Yet, the organization has been aggression in the fight for redistribution of showing strong inclinations towards the resources, not for the defense of democracy “Pan-Slavic” idea, which can be seen mostly (which they deem is already an essentially in its negative attitude towards NATO and “dead ideology”). The group is also a the USA, and to a lesser extent in its proponent of Russian interests in the region, attitudes towards the EU. SB’s “Pan- recently accusing the Slovak Ministry of Slavism” is often in line with Russian Defense of cooperating with NGOs that interests. One of its members went to “conduct mostly one-sided lobbying in favor Donbas to fight on the side of the pro- of NATO’s military campaign against the Russian separatists, while another travelled Russian Federation and for the benefit of the to Russia to participate in trainings military-industrial complex of the United conducted by Russian Cossacks. Its States.” members are known for statements refusing to acknowledge the Russian military’s presence in Ukraine or denying that Russia Media illegally annexed Crimea. The openly pro-Russian camp on Slovakia’s Action Group Resistance Kysuce (Akčná media landscape consists of several, mostly skupina Vzdor Kysuce – VK) is a far-right fringe, media outlets. Earth and Age (Zem a paramilitary movement that glorifies Josef Vek) is a monthly conspiratorial periodical Tiso and espouses radical anti-Semitism. It that promotes anti-Western, anti-EU and claims to follow in the legacy of Slovakia’s anti-NATO views and has been openly war-time army that fought alongside the supporting the rebellion in Donbas. Wehrmacht “against Bolshevism.” The HlavneSpravy.sk is a web portal that mixes movement has connections with the L’SNS fake news coming from Russia with reliable political party. The leader of VK ran an information from the mainstream media. In unsuccessful campaign for parliament on 2016, the two entities mentioned above

The Visegrad Countries and “Post-Truth“ | page 9 formed the Association of Independent The most disturbing example of mainstream Media in cooperation with Free political force being responsible for Broadcaster (Slobodný vysielač), an promoting the Kremlin’s interests in Hungary online radio channel which is also is, however, the far-right Jobbik – considered a source of anti-Western and Movement for a Better Hungary. Jobbik is pro-Russian rhetoric. Other outlets part of a network of far-right parties in considered to be spreading the Kremlin’s Europe that support Russian geopolitical narrative are the bi-weeklies Literary goals by echoing the Kremlin’s “mindset” Weekly (Literárny týždenník) and Warrior and its attempts to destabilize NATO and (Bojovník) and the monthly Extra Plus. the EU. For years, Jobbik had not been worried about the movement’s aggressive

and nationalistic image. In 2013/2014, Hungary however, the party decided to change its Unlike the other Visegrad countries, strategy and has been undergoing a general Hungary lacks linguistic and cultural facelift, shifting closer to the political center connections with Russia. Nor can it refer to in the hope of attracting new voters. Despite Pan-Slavic ideology. Economic pragmatism, trying to shed its negative image in the derived from energy dependency, has for mainstream, Jobbik has not severed its many years been the driving force behind connections with the right-wing radical Hungary’s policy vis-à-vis Russia. For the scene of Hungarian politics. Although the last few years, however, Hungary has been party has made great efforts to distance witnessing an eastward turn in its overall itself from extremist movements, any real politics, which is revealed in the Hungarian changes have been superficial, applied first version of illiberal democracy, a and foremost to satisfy and mislead the phenomenon that derives many of its general public. In reality, Jobbik remains features from the Kremlin’s formula of intertwined with the extremist and governing the state. The country is paramilitary organizations that have become susceptible to the Russian narrative, which even more important in channeling the in Hungary is based on questioning Kremlin’s narrative in Hungary. Hungary’s membership in the EU and NATO and arousing resentments towards Organizations and paramilitary Transylvania and Transcarpathia with the movements aim to open territorial disputes with Ukraine and Romania. There is an abundance of far-right extremist organizations that either deliberately or

unintentionally push the Russian agenda in Politics Hungary. What is common to all of these Many point out Fidesz, the Hungarian ruling organizations is their extreme negative party, when discussing the strengthening of perceptions of the Roma minority and ties between Hungary and Russia. Prime migrants coming to Hungary due to the minister Victor Orban and his aides have refugee crisis. They display negative been criticized for implementing Kremlin- attitudes towards the European Union and style policies in Hungary, for instance, with NATO and frequently include a policy of regard to NGOs. In 2014, Orban gave a border revisionism as part of their political speech in which he declared that he wants agenda. to build an “illiberal democracy” in Hungary.

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The Sixty-Four Counties Youth The Hungarian Self-Defense Movement, a Movement (HVIM) is a revisionist, hate- sister organization of Jobbik, tries to depict fueled organization whose goal is the itself as a group that is open to society, one restoration of Great Hungary. Its anti-Semitic which organizes donation drives and assists and anti-Roma attitude is widely known. in flood prevention and community care Facebook has even banned the pages of all projects. In reality, the organization is yet groups affiliated with the organization, another example of an extreme-right apparently for their use of Nazi symbols. movement, dangerous primarily due to its The group has on multiple occasions military-type training, which is offered by the questioned the territorial integrity of Ukraine. “self-defense chapter” of the group, as well In 2014, HVIM co-organized (with Jobbik) as the constant threat it poses to the Roma protests in front of the Ukrainian Embassy in minority. They also regularly conduct anti- Budapest to demand autonomy for migrant events together with Jobbik. Transcarpathia and has opted for the federalization of Ukraine. The same year, HVIM organized protests calling for a Media “patriotic stand in support of Russia.” Extremist organizations operate mostly The Army of Outlaws is another extremist through the social media, websites and organization that cooperates closely with occasional interviews. Their peculiar views HVIM. Both were established by Laszlo find little understanding in the mainstream Toroczkai, the current Mayor of the city of media and their views on Russian rarely Ásotthalom. He is also a vice president in reach the general public. When they occur, it Jobbik. The Army of Outlaws openly uses is mostly through “scandals,” such as in violence, especially against the Roma 2015, when the extreme-right Ukrainian minority, and obtains a part of its revenue paramilitary organization Karpatska Sich from “protecting” other organizations. The threatened to annihilate Jobbik and HVIM organization is very susceptible to Russian activists they saw as undermining the propaganda and even uses its own channels Ukrainian state and destabilizing the region, to spread it, including the Facebook profiles or in 2016, when the leader of the pro- of its members. On its website, one can read Russian Hungarian National Front (the a field report by one of its members about a organization was afterwards dissolved) killed visit to Russia that describes the country as a police officer when his house was a model of law and order and normalcy, as searched for weapons. opposed to the West, infected by liberal The pro-Kremlin narrative’s presence in the values. The group sees Russia’s mainstream is mostly thanks to the presence interventions in Ukraine and Syria as of Jobbik in the political mainstream. legitimate and describes Putin’s regime as a Jobbik’s connections with Russia are both guarantor of peace and orderliness. apparent and controversial. Probably the The paramilitary New Hungarian Guard most “spectacular” cooperation was Movement (MÖM) is another unofficial revealed in 2014, and involved Bela Kovacs, acolyte of Jobbik. The organization is mostly a Hungarian Member of the European active as an anti-refugee movement, which Parliament and the former head of Jobbik’s promotes the view that the migration crisis in policy cabinet. Kovacs was accused by the Hungary and Europe was organized with US authorities of espionage against the EU on funding. behalf of Russia. The accusation was not followed by any concrete measures,

The Visegrad Countries and “Post-Truth“ | page 11 however, and Kovacs has remained Republic, and especially in Slovakia, Pan- politically active in Brussels. Slavic ideology has been revisited, with Russia as the center of the Pan-Slavic

world, and contemporary Ukraine and the Conclusions West as its main enemies. The Kremlin’s narrative in the Visegrad Combating the Russian narrative in the countries is promulgated through different Visegrad countries has been sluggish. entities and exploits a variety of topics to Although the Ministry of Interior in the Czech achieve its strategic goals. Although the pro- Republic launched the Centre against Russian narrative is generally shared Terrorism and Hybrid Threats, actions (intentionally or unintentionally) by fringe undertaken in the Visegrad countries are media outlets, it also counts adherents insufficient and ineffective. The analytical among the mainstream political parties and community has been slowly, but even the most prominent politicians. Jobbik consistently, gaining knowledge about the in Hungary, the Freedom and Direct Party in Russian narrative in the respective Visegrad the Czech Republic and the People’s Party countries. Now is the time to take a new our Slovakia all hold seats in national approach and develop sustainable (not parliaments and put forward agendas that occasional) national and multinational oppose western values and question cooperation, with the inclusion of people membership in the EU and NATO. At the from European institutions. same time, their political views are often in The first step is to stop ignoring the potential favor of the Kremlin’s interests. In the case threat of disinformation. Politicians have to of the Czech Republic, even the president speak about it openly and condemn the has on many occasions echoed the Russian meddling of Kremlin propaganda in national narrative. politics. A great example has already been While some topics are commonly exploited set by President Emmanuel Macron during by Russian propaganda in the Visegrad his meeting with President Putin in May countries, others are country specific. The 2017. Talking to journalists, Macron heavily anti-EU, anti-NATO and anti-US agenda is a criticized Russia Today and Sputnik for common denominator for the Kremlin’s spreading lies during the French presidential narrative in the V4, as is the disinformation campaign1. campaign about refugees invading Europe. Apart from words, concrete actions are also As complicated as the situation with the necessary. The financial links of refugee crisis is, the propaganda tries to organizations and media outlets that lobby depict migration as a serious threat to both the Kremlin’s narrative should be national security and traditional European scrutinized. Information revealed in recent values. In Poland, the Kremlin’s narrative of months shows that Russian capital was disinformation concentrates heavily on used to finance anti-Ukraine and pro- disturbing Polish-Ukrainian relations by separatist protests in Poland and other provoking disagreements over history and frightening Poles with visions of massive migration from Ukraine that may be harmful for the Polish job market. In Hungary, it 1 Macron, Standing Alongside Putin, Says Russian Media Spread 'Falsehoods, “The revives resentment towards “Great Hungary” Atlantic”, 30 May 2017, and incites questioning the territorial integrity https://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2017/0 of Ukraine and Romania. In the Czech 5/macron-rt-supnik-are-agents-of- influence/528480/.

The Visegrad Countries and “Post-Truth“ | page 12 countries, mostly in 2014 and 20152. This Kremlin connections of Slovak paramilitary, situation demands a proper investigation by extremist and neo-Nazi groups, Political national security forces, as well as by Capital/Institute for Public Affairs/Globsec, investigative journalists and constant Budaperst 2017; A. Juhasz, L. Gyori, E. monitoring by the analytical community. Zgut, A. Dezso, The Truth Today Is What Putin Says It Is, Political Capital, Budapest Finally, the countries of the European Union 2017. Information provided in the text has should develop deeper cooperation among been taken directly from abovementioned their secret service units to deal with reports, unless stated otherwise. Russian disinformation. Only effective cooperation in this area can help bring about the early detection and neutralization of these potential threats to national security. Łukasz Wenerski works as an analyst and project coordinator for the Institute

of Public Affairs, a leading independent ______think-tank in Warsaw www.isp.org.pl This report was prepared within the framework of the project “Young Leaders for

Europe”, jointly run by the Bertelsmann

Stiftung and the Heinz Nixdorf Stiftung.

The report draws on the results of the project “The activity of pro-Russian extremist groups in Central-Eastern Europe, carried out by Political Capital (Budapest, Hungary). . The project covered the Russian narrative in the Visegrad Group and in Austria. As a partner in the project, the IPA has prepared a report on the situation in Poland. Each chapter is based on conclusions from a national report written by the following authors: Ł. Wenerski, M. Kacewicz, Russian soft power in Poland - The Kremlin and pro- Russian organizations, Political Capital/Institute of Public Affairs, Budapest 2017; P. Vejvodova, J. Janda, V. Vichova, Address | Contact The Russian connections of far-right and Gabriele Schöler paramilitary organizations in the Czech Senior Project Manager Republic, Political Capital/European Values, Program The Future of Europe Budapest 2017; G. Meseznikov, R. Branik, Bertelsmann Stiftung Telephone 05241 81-81205 Hatred, violence and comprehensive military Mobile 0172 5207 790 training - The violent radicalisation and Fax 05241 81-681205 [email protected] www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de 2 Foot Soldiers in a Shadowy Battle Between Russia and the West, “The New York Times“,28.05.2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/28/world/euro pe/slovakia-czech-republic-hungary-poland- russia-agitation.html.