The Russia connectionExperts: “Russian public media spread Catalan pro-independence propaganda”

Published 3 January 2018

A year ago, a British parliament committee – the Digital, Culture, Media and Sports Committee – began an investigation into fake news, exploring evidence that media outlets with ties to the Russian government have tried to destabilize the EU and NATO by disseminating disinformation. The members of the committee – five from the Conservative Party, five from the Labor Party, and one from the Scottish National Party – have already taken evidence from dozens of experts, scholars, and journalists on the subject of fake news. The experts appearing before the committee noted that there have been a similar pattern between Russian government’s interference and meddling activities with the Brexit referendum campaign, and Russian meddling activities pushing for Catalan independence.

A year ago, a British parliament committee – the Digital, Culture, Media and Sports Committee – began an investigation into fake news, exploring evidence that media outlets with ties to the Russian government have tried to destabilize the EU and NATO by disseminating disinformation. Analysts say that Brexit, the decision by the United Kingdom to leave the EU, could have been one of the effects of this campaign (see “Russian-operated bots posted millions of social media posts, fake stories during Brexit referendum,” HSNW, 20 November 2017).

The members of the committee – five from the Conservative Party, five from the Labor Party, and one from the Scottish National Party – have already taken evidence from dozens of experts, scholars, and journalists on the subject of fake news.

The experts appearing before the committee noted that there have been a similar pattern between Russian government’s interference and meddling activities with the Brexit referendum campaign and Russian meddling activities pushing for Catalan independence.

El Pais reports that this is the reason why the committee called several Spanish experts in to testify on the matter in a hearing on 19 December. Among those testifying was El Pais Managing Editor David Alandete.

El Pais published excerpts from the hearing.

Ian C. Lucas, Labor MP: Do you have evidence that the Russian government is seeking to interfere with the referendum in Catalonia?
David Alandete: The only evidence I have as a journalist is that Russian state-affiliated TV organizations have been openly spreading propaganda that benefits those who want independence in Catalonia.

Lucas: I think that’s an interesting answer, because I am interested in the relationship between the Russian government and Russian-affiliated media. You talked about Sputnik.
Alandete: Yes, which is fully owned by them.