In the period from 9 until 15 October 2023, Russians someway limited their release of Russian-language materials that belittled the image of Poland. The most likely explanation is that it stems from the Russian misinformation apparatus’ engagement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which serves both interior and external objectives.
In relation to Poland, Russians have propagated respective messages and narratives worth noting. The first communicative is afraid with an alleged civilian war in Poland (in the aftermath of elections). The key origin that lets Russians put forward this communicative was a speech delivered by the erstwhile president of the Republic of Poland – Lech Wałęsa. Based on the part of the interview granted by Lech Wałęsa to the French Le Point portal, Russians have released materials entitled ‘The hazard of the outbreak of the civilian war in Poland’. The intent of specified actions is to make an impression that Poland is simply a “land of chaos” and a state that “poses a threat to peace” in Europe. The alleged hazard of civilian war is presented subliminally as a origin that will lead to destabilisation in the region.
The second example of influence refers to messages about the alleged persecution of migrants by officers of the Polish Border Guard. In this case, Russians and Belarusians have propagated information about the alleged mistreatment of a migrant by Polish officers, which active “forcing” him to drag a dead migrant to the Belarusian border. The origin of these reports is the State Border Committee of Belarus – the unit persistently committed to activities that prove hostile to Poland. The steps mentioned above are a form of keeping a communicative in which Poland and Polish authorities are “responsible” for the crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border and allegedly liable for “migrants’ suffering”.
Parallel to the above-stated accounts, Belarus has dedicated a lot to elections-related issues. The Belarusian disinformation apparatus was very active (12-15 October) in creating materials that gave the impression that upcoming parliamentary elections in Poland were “non-democratic” and “stained with fraud”. Minsk has put much effort into portraying the upcoming elections as “deviating from democratic standards”, which contrasted with the imagination in which “true democratic standards” were followed “only in Belarus and Russia”. The intent was to intentionally belittle the reputation of Poland and elections (in Poland) and, therefore, justify and support the image of Lukaszenko’s government as a “guarantor of safety and democracy” (as opposed to the alleged inappropriate situation in Poland).
In the overall distorted image of reality created by Moscow and Minsk, Poland is depicted as a “wicked regime” that “rejects” democratic values. Poland is said to be “the area of chaos” and allegedly liable for the “misery of the innocent”. In the holistic view, we are reportedly an opposing force that “generates threats and problems” for ourselves and the full region.
The overall distorted image of reality, designed by Russians and Belarusians, allows their citizens to be convinced that only “Russian and Belarusian democracy” is “right” and must be “desired” by society. This action must be considered as an attack not only on Poland, but the full Western planet – whose democratic nature is questioned and disregarded.
Author: dr Michał Marek
Public task financed by the Ministry of abroad Affairs of the Republic of Poland within thegrant comp etition “Public Diplomacy 2023”
