The US government accuses Russia of financing a disinformation campaign in Latin America aimed at weakening support for Ukraine and stirring up anti-American sentiment.
According to the Foreign Ministry, the Kremlin does not try to directly influence newspapers, broadcasters and social media in almost all Latin American countries. To this end, it is engaging three Russian organizations with connections to local journalists and influencers.
This concerns the Social Design Agency (SDA), the Internet Development Institute and Structura. The European Union imposed sanctions on two of them in July for spreading propaganda against Ukraine.
The main channels through which the Russians spread their disinformation are Pressenza in Ecuador, which describes itself as an international news agency for peace and nonviolence and which cooperates with 300 newspapers, channels and websites around the world, and El Ciudadano, a libertarian socialist. Chilean media outlet.
The Russian Embassy in Washington has not yet responded to this accusation.
This is the second time in a short period that Americans have accused Moscow of using fake news and propaganda in a disinformation campaign. On October 20, the United States published a declassified intelligence report, sent to more than 100 governments, that Moscow was using spies, social media, and Russian state media to undermine public confidence in the integrity of democratic elections.
Peter van Amelrooy
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