In the upcoming elections in the Czech Republic, the rate is high – for Russia. No wonder that the Czech Republic faces the record wave of the Kremlin's propaganda.
The victory of the populist right -wing Andrej Babisz, who leads in the polls, would mean that he would join at the EU table to Viktor Orban and Robert Fico, weakening the unity and cohesion of the European Union. The leaders of Hungary and Slovakia are friendly with Russian President Vladimir Putin and consistently torpedo EU support for Ukraine.
The current Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala described the election that will take place on October 3-4 as a struggle for the geopolitical future of the country.
– It's about where the Czech Republic is going. Will we remain a strong democracy, with full freedom, prosperity, a country firmly embedded in the west … or we drift somewhere east – said Fiala during a rally in Pilzno.
Analysts warn against the black script.
A special threat to Czech society is a huge increase in pro -Russian propaganda and disinformation that can affect the election result.
According to Vojtech Boe, an investigative journalist of the Czech Voxpot website, since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The number of false information is constantly increasing. In his opinion, about 5,000 appear in the Czech information environment. false information per month. It's a record.
The last investment of VOXPOT has shown that 16 largest websites dealing with disinformation publishes more content than all traditional Czech media combined.
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The articles contain both critical statements about the EU and NATO, as well as extraordinary conspiracy theories, including the claim that Brussels promotes cannibalism as a solution to the problem of climate change.
Analysts emphasize that pro -Russian disinformation activities are aimed not so much by the support of a specific candidate but the weakening of the Czech Republic as a whole.
Kristina Sefcikova, head of the disinformation resistance program at Think Tank Prague Institute of Studies on Security, claims that recently most messages focus on questioning the legality of elections, undermining the value of democracy itself.
“We can observe the use of the Kremlin strategy in the information space,” she said.
Russia is not the only foreign power interfering with the Czech Republic – China also plays a significant role – but the influence of the Kremlin is by far the most visible.
“Russia is currently the number one topic,” added Sefcikova.
Moscow candidate?
Under the Fiali Czech Republic, they headed the arms initiative aimed at accelerating the supply of ammunition to Kiev and adopted a huge number of Ukrainian refugees, who currently constitute about 5 percent. the population of the country – most per capita throughout the EU.
Babisz's victory, a former communist who became a billionaire and co -founder The extreme right -wing Patriot group for Europe in the European Parliamentit can change it.
The party of Ano Babisza called, among others To withdraw a correction in the law that helps prosecute people who provide confidential information to foreign powers, including Russia.
“Babisz is against the initiative to provide ammunition for Ukraine, against defense expenses, talks about peace without any conditions,” said Fiala in an interview with The Financial Times. “He helps Vladimir Putin, it's obvious.”
Former Czech prime minister Andrej Babisz with the Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor OrbanGabriel Kuchta / Getty Images / Contributor / Getty Images
Babisz, on the other hand, accused the fians of an attempt to escalate war in Ukraine, claiming that the prime minister “dreams of war with Russia.”
“President Trump rightly warned President Zelanski, and thus also Europe that the Igra of World War III,” said Babisz in March.
Babisz's position coincides with the line of Georgia of the Party, a Georgian dream, which fuels fears before the war with Russia to justify a rapid reversal from Europe.
Tomasz Cirhan, a political analyst at the Masaryka University in Brno, claims that Babisz is trying to win votes, referring to this part of Czech society, which is afraid that increased defense expenses will take place at the expense of services.
“He is a pragmatic populist politician who tries to say what is necessary to gain support, and is not an ideologically pro-Russian person,” said Cirhan, paying attention to the “firm” position of Babisza towards Russia when he was the prime minister in 2017-2021.
“A lot will depend on whether Babisz will create a coalition with extreme leftist or far -right parties, which are much more anti -EU and pro -Russian,” added Cirhan.
Babisz did not answer the request for a commentary made by Politico.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
