In this must-listen-to episode, Olga and Mo are joined by Eto Buziashvili for a deep dive into Russia's sophisticated information warfare operations/tactics and the profound implications for global democracy and security. They discuss the pivotal role played by Western propagandists in magnifying the reach and impact of Russian disinformation operations. They also delve into the strategic objectives behind Russia's efforts to wield information as a weapon, aiming to fracture and destabilize Western societies, and discuss the complexities of narrative warfare, where truth and falsehood blur, shaping a battleground to manipulate public perception and sow division.

Eto Buziashvili is a research associate for the Caucasus at the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab). Eto researches influence operations and social media manipulation, with a focus on Russia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe, and the South Caucasus. Prior to the DFRLab, Eto advised the National Security Council of Georgia and was involved in developing strategic documents. Before joining the NSC, Eto worked as a senior analyst at the country’s Ministry of Interior, where she covered security issues related to Russia and the occupied regions of Georgia. In her role as a senior analyst, she was one of the negotiators at the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) through which Russian officials and separatist leaders from the occupied regions of Georgia addressed the consequences of the 2008 Russian-Georgian War. Eto graduated from the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) and the University of Geneva with an MA in International and European Security.

Show notes and links to Eto's latest research are available at https://kremlinfile.substack.com/

Executive Producer: Oreste Camarra

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