EditCzechia faces unprecedented Russian propaganda campaign ahead of key elections
The ruling coalition’s awareness of this orchestrated effort to promote Kremlin-aligned narratives, but political inaction persists
With parliamentary elections set for 3-4 October, the Czech Republic is grappling with a massive Russian or pro-Russian propaganda campaign, described as historically significant by Czech media outlet Voxpot and the Czech tech collective Druit.
Despite the ruling coalition’s awareness of this orchestrated effort to promote Kremlin-aligned narratives, political inaction persists, raising alarms about the integrity of the upcoming vote.
A quarter-century of “alternative facts”
For over 25 years, a parallel media ecosystem has thrived in the Czech Republic, peddling what Voxpot calls “alternative facts.”
These online portals, often claiming to champion the “ordinary citizen,” assert they uncover truths concealed by mainstream media. Voxpot’s investigation pinpoints 16 highly influential websites that share a consistent agenda: euroscepticism, opposition to NATO membership, anti-vaccine rhetoric, and resistance to immigration.
Most critically, these platforms uniformly vilify Ukraine while advancing Russian interests, a trend Voxpot warns could shape the nation’s future.
On 18 June the Czech government narrowly survived a no-confidence vote sparked by a high-profile bitcoin scandal involving a drug trafficker, which has significantly destabilized the nation’s political landscape.
Recent opinion polls indicate that the right-wing populist opposition party, Action of Dissatisfied Citizens (ANO), led by former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, commands 31.2% support. In contrast, the governing liberal-conservative coalition, Spolu (Together), headed by Prime Minister Petr Fiala, trails with 21.6% support.
Andrej Babiš, a Eurosceptic and the frontrunner for the upcoming October parliamentary elections, stated in a Financial Times interview that he plans to disregard NATO’s 5% defense spending target and halt arms deliveries to Ukraine if elected.
Propaganda at peak intensity
According to an analysis published by Voxpot on 25 August, these 16 disinformation websites have escalated their output to unprecedented levels, producing around 4,000 articles monthly – approximately 130 per day.
This volume surpasses the combined daily output of the Czech Republic’s leading traditional and online media outlets. The surge, which mirrors activity seen during Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, is likely tied to the looming elections, with the apparent aim of mobilizing specific voter groups and eroding social cohesion.
The timing suggests a clear motive: creating tension ahead of the elections. Similar patterns have been observed across Europe, pointing to a broader Kremlin strategy to weaken the EU and NATO from within. Front-page content on these portals often vilifies Ukraine, its President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Western institutions while celebrating Russian military advances.
Voxpot’s review of 360,000 articles spanning 25 years reveals a sophisticated, well-funded network with editorial processes and political ties, far removed from the amateur blogs they once appeared to be.
Legal violations go unchecked
A significant portion – roughly 10%, of these websites’ content consists of direct translations from Kremlin-controlled outlets like Sputnik, RT, and RIA Novosti.
As these Russian state media are under EU sanctions, republishing their content violates Czech law. Sources within the Czech government confirm awareness of these violations, yet political hesitancy, driven by the impending elections, has stalled any enforcement action, according to Voxpot.
Michal Koudelka, head of the Czech Security Information Service (BIS), has sounded the alarm on Russian interference as a significant threat to the upcoming elections.
Koudelka emphasized the BIS’s impartiality, focusing solely on foreign threats to Czech security, not domestic political competition. He cited a 2023 incident during the presidential election, where a fabricated video falsely depicted candidate Petr Pavel advocating for Czech involvement in the Ukraine war. The video’s origins were traced to Russia, confirming direct interference.
He noted that Russia remains the primary actor in global election meddling, with the Czech Republic a key target for subversive operations, alongside countries like Romania and Moldova. These efforts include disinformation, cyberattacks, and illicit financing aimed at undermining democratic processes.
Opaque networks and known players
Uncovering the ownership and funding of these disinformation platforms is challenging, as many obscure their structures. However, some connections are clear. For example, Nová republika was founded by Ivan David, a former Health Minister and current MEP from the nationalist SPD party, which opposes Czech support for Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression. Such ties suggest a blend of domestic and foreign interests fueling the propaganda machine.
The campaign in the Czech Republic aligns with similar efforts across Europe, signaling a Kremlin-led strategy to destabilize the EU and NATO.
With the parliamentary elections fast approaching, the surge in Russian-backed disinformation poses a direct challenge to Czech democracy. The professionalized nature of these campaigns, their legal violations, and the government’s hesitation to act underscore the urgency of addressing this threat.
The scale and coordination of these operations underscore the need for vigilance as the Czech Republic approaches a pivotal election, with the potential to reshape its political landscape and international alliances.
Caption: Andrej Babis, former Czech premier and leader of the ANO party attends the Victory Day rally organized by the European nationalist and far-right political party Patriotes.eu in Mormant-sur-Vernisson, France, 09 June 2025. Babiš, a Eurosceptic and the frontrunner for the upcoming October parliamentary elections, profits from pro-Russian propaganda. EPA/SADAK SOUICI
Updated: August 28, 2025 - 11:08
