In a world increasingly shaped by information wars, the tactics employed by state-sponsored media outlets to influence public opinion are constantly evolving. One such tactic involves leveraging the popularity and perceived independence of bloggers to disseminate propaganda and promote specific agendas. This article delves into an investigation by FYM News, uncovering how the Russian state television channel RT (formerly Russia Today) utilizes bloggers to criticize the West, and entice foreigners to relocate to Russia, promising them a haven of “traditional values.”
The investigation reveals a network of seemingly independent bloggers who, in reality, are financially supported by RT. These bloggers create content that aligns with the Kremlin’s narrative, often criticizing Western policies, promoting Russian culture, and highlighting the benefits of living in Russia. This approach allows RT to circumvent censorship and reach a broader audience through trusted voices. This FYM News report will explore the methods used by RT, the individuals involved, and the potential impact of this propaganda campaign. We will examine the financial ties, content strategies, and the overall effectiveness of this subtle yet pervasive influence operation.
RT’s Sanctions and New Strategies
In the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the European Union imposed sanctions on RT, citing its significant role in instigating and supporting military aggression. These sanctions, coupled with actions from American streaming services and Google, severely restricted RT’s direct access to Western audiences. Attempts to bypass these blocks by creating clone channels proved futile, as YouTube quickly shut them down. This prompted RT to adopt a new strategy: disseminating content through blogs that appeared independent from the state-owned media outlet.
IStories, in their investigation, uncovered several channels linked to RT, which were publishing old videos of the television channel under the guise of their own, advocating for the war in Ukraine, criticizing the policies of Western governments, and actively promoting the relocation of foreigners to Russia for traditional values. This approach allowed RT to circumvent restrictions and continue influencing public opinion.
By using bloggers, RT could tap into existing audiences and leverage the trust these individuals had built with their followers. This made the propaganda more palatable and less likely to be dismissed as state-sponsored messaging. The strategy also provided a level of deniability, as the bloggers could claim to be independent voices expressing their own opinions.
Real Reporter: Independent Voice or RT Shill?
Konstantin Rozhkov, the face behind the English-language YouTube channel Real Reporter, presents himself as an independent content creator providing balanced and unbiased content. However, a closer examination reveals a deep connection to RT. Rozhkov’s channel, which boasts nearly 300,000 subscribers, initially featured videos from the Russian hinterland, showcasing extreme weather conditions and unique cultural experiences.
However, over time, Real Reporter shifted towards producing content on political topics. These videos often downplayed the impact of sanctions on Russia, highlighted the success of import substitution, and featured interviews with Russian soldiers and foreigners who had relocated to Russia seeking a better life.
Despite Rozhkov’s claims of independence, evidence suggests otherwise. Many commentators have pointed out that the channel was created shortly after RT was banned and questioned the high production quality of the videos, stating that it was something only a federal channel could deliver. IStories discovered that some of Real Reporter‘s videos were actually RT films with the RT logo replaced with the Real Reporter logo. The content was being repackaged as original.
“Russian Road”: Reincarnation of Propaganda
The YouTube channel Russian Road, formerly known as Russian Code, presents itself as a platform for foreigners who have moved to Russia to share their experiences. The channel features stories of individuals who claim to have left their home countries due to various reasons, such as disagreement with liberal agendas, Russophobia, or the desire for traditional values.
These stories often portray Russia as a haven for those seeking a more conservative and traditional lifestyle. Interviewees express their admiration for Russia’s culture, values, and leadership, while simultaneously criticizing the perceived moral decay of the West. The channel’s content is designed to appeal to disillusioned Westerners who may be seeking an alternative to their current circumstances.
However, many of the interviewees on Russian Road have also appeared on RT programs, raising questions about the channel’s true purpose. An anonymous Russian YouTube channel producer noted that the production level of Russian Road is very high. It is also surprising that there are no visible attempts to monetize the channel, he says, which means that the money is coming from either someone very big, with a safety net of at least six months, or the project exists to fulfill some KPI that they report to their superiors.
RT Employees Behind “Russian Road”
Despite the lack of journalists on camera, IStories discovered that the Russian Road YouTube channel is run by RT employees. Artem Vorobyov and Pavel Baydikov, who are listed as authors of documentaries for RT.Doc on the website, are the individuals running the show. One character from a Russian Road video even gave the contact information of another team member — Pavel Baydikov. This fact was confirmed by IStories, as Artem Vorobyov has been working at the ANO “TV-Novosti” for the past few years. This discovery further solidifies the link between the channel and the Russian state media outlet.
Vorobyov even directed a film about the “surge of Russophobia” in Europe. This connection indicates that the channel is not simply a platform for independent voices but rather a carefully crafted propaganda outlet managed by individuals with close ties to RT.
Neither Artem Vorobyov nor Pavel Baydikov responded to questions about their involvement with Russian Road or their connections to RT, which raised more questions about the YouTube channel.
Noah’s Ark for Disgruntled Westerners
The activities of Real Reporter and Russian Road align with the Kremlin’s campaign to attract immigrants from the U.S. and Europe to Russia. The Russian government has introduced measures to provide humanitarian support to foreigners from developed countries who share traditional Russian spiritual and moral values.
Vladimir Putin signed a decree in August 2024 on providing “humanitarian support” to foreigners from developed countries who “share traditional Russian spiritual and moral values.” Those wishing to relocate need to sign a document and confirm that “the motive for moving to Russia is the rejection of the state’s policy, which imposes ideological attitudes that contradict traditional Russian spiritual and moral values.” The face of this campaign is Maria Butina, a State Duma deputy. The Kremlin is essentially offering a “Noah’s Ark” for disgruntled Westerners, providing them with a safe haven from what it perceives as the moral decay of the West.
RT is actively involved in promoting this campaign, with Maria Butina hosting a new show on RT dedicated to people who decided to move from the West. This coordinated effort highlights the importance the Russian government places on attracting like-minded individuals to its country.
The Effectiveness of Propaganda Strategy
The time when Western media were technically blocked in Russia and Russian media are censored for Western audiences, makes our work more necessary than ever, advertises the service created by Held. “In the West, people often have no idea what life in Russia is really like.” However, how effective is RT’s strategy of broadcasting propaganda through foreign bloggers?
Anna Fenko, an associate professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Amsterdam, says that Kremlin narratives about traditional values and anti-immigrant rhetoric resonate well with the discontent of certain groups in the West who are dissatisfied with the current policies in their countries. Therefore, the effectiveness of any content depends on the match between the audience’s preferences and the message itself.
Bloggers will not be able to attract a significant number of migrants from Western countries to Russia, but creating a positive image of Russia is quite possible, argues Anna Fenko. The traditional goal of propaganda is to attract ‘useful idiots’ to their side. You don’t need to spend millions, a few bloggers will cost pennies. Since the West is still a democracy, politicians are forced to reckon with the opinion of the people.
Conclusion
The FYM News investigation reveals a sophisticated propaganda operation orchestrated by RT, which utilizes bloggers to spread pro-Kremlin narratives and entice foreigners to relocate to Russia. By masking state-sponsored messaging behind seemingly independent voices, RT circumvents censorship and taps into existing audiences. The financial ties, coordinated content strategies, and the involvement of RT employees expose the true nature of these propaganda outlets.
While the effectiveness of this strategy in attracting a significant number of migrants remains questionable, the creation of a positive image of Russia and the cultivation of “useful idiots” in the West pose a threat. By exploiting existing discontent and amplifying divisive narratives, RT seeks to influence public opinion and potentially impact political decision-making. As information wars continue to shape the global landscape, it is crucial to remain vigilant and critically evaluate the sources and motivations behind the content we consume.
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