Russian disinformation actors in Europe and Africa under European sanctions

4 mins

The people and entities named by the Council of the European Union will be subject to a new sanctions regime developed last October, in response to the intensification of hybrid activity campaigns. These are activities carried out both online and in a physical space for the purposes of destabilization.

Among those incriminated, unit 29155 of Russia’s military intelligence (GRU), known for its clandestine operations, sabotage, bombings and cyber attacks and other information campaigns. The primary objective of these informational maneuvers is to reduce the support of European countries for Ukraine. This ranges from the publication of false newspaper articles on false websites, to real operations with the recruitment of agents to take photos of tags expressly aimed at sowing confusion in public opinion.

Targeting GRU agents… but not only

Sofia Zakharova, head of information development and communication technologies in the information office of the Russian presidency and Nikolai Tupikin founding boss of GK Struktura – unofficial influential entrepreneur – are on the list of people sanctioned, for their participation in the organization of the so-called Doppelgänger campaign. This ongoing campaign makes it possible to disseminate false propaganda articles through mirror sites of major media outlets around the world. If this offensive struggles to obtain significant visibility, the French authorities believe, for their part, that it nevertheless contributes to a “ persistent noise », aiming to fuel the anti-French narrative in several African countries.

The link with Africa

The same structures identified by the EU are linked – more or less directly – to an entire ecosystem in Africa, active in the dissemination of false news.

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The Pan-African Group for Trade and Investment (GPCI), founded by Harouna Douamba in 2022 in Burkina Faso, has formed a vast network through which false information is relayed, particularly targeting the French presence in Africa. This influential company took over from the NGO Anacom, founded in 2011 by the Ivorian businessman in the Central African Republic. The Europeans accuse him of “ support or implement policies advocated by the Government of the Russian Federation in order to undermine democracy, the rule of law, stability and security of Member States or third countries […] by facilitating the use of coordinated information manipulation and interference “.

Another entity identified, the African Initiative association, was registered in 2023 in Moscow. It operates under the leadership of Artem Kureev, who himself reports to the Security Council of the Russian Federation. The Council of the EU criticizes him in particular for disinformation campaigns against the programs of Western organizations in charge of health. This association pays journalists to spread conspiratorial narratives about pseudo biological warfare maneuvers and experiments by pharmaceutical laboratories.

Asset freeze in Europe

Other high-ranking members of the Russian military and Russian intelligence services are also sanctioned. They have in fact taken over – on behalf of the Russian state – the operations set up by the late Yevgeny Prigozhin when he led the Wagner paramilitary group. Individuals and entities targeted by these restrictive measures will have their assets frozen in the EU, and will be subject to a ban on movement within the EU. It will also be impossible for them to benefit from financing from European companies.

The European Union is not alone in being concerned about Russian activities on European soil but also in partner countries. The North Atlantic Council, but also the United Kingdom, are increasingly vigilant in the face of the resurgence of hybrid threats orchestrated from Moscow.

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