The Anonymous hacking group published on Monday a batch of documents of the UK-financed anti-Russian project Integrity Initiative on Russian-Spanish relations, which the group described as "fake proof" of Moscow's alleged meddling in the Catalan crisis.
MADRID (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 03rd December, 2018) The Anonymous hacking group published on Monday a batch of documents of the UK-financed anti-Russian project Integrity Initiative on Russian-Spanish relations, which the group described as "fake proof" of Moscow's alleged meddling in the Catalan crisis.Last month, Anonymous released documents related to the United Kingdom's Integrity Initiative project, saying that the program had been launched in 2015 and was funded by the UK government. The hacktivist group claimed that the program was a "large-scale information secret service" created by London to "counteract Russian propaganda." A new batch of documents was released earlier on Monday.
The link to the Integrity Initiative's document called "Framing Russian meddling in the Catalan question" is accompanied by the hacking group's comment "Fake proof of Russia's interference in the Catalan independence referendum disseminated among Spanish politicians and Media." The second document is dedicated to Russia's perception in Spain and to the steps aimed at damaging Russia's image in the southwestern European country.
FRAMING RUSSIAN MEDDLING IN THE CATALAN QUESTION
Authors of the first document recognize that Russia supported the territorial integrity of Spain at the official level.
"The Kremlin backs Madrid and considers the Catalan crisis an internal affair of Spain - at least at the official level and for the time being," the document said.
However, the document says that the crisis in Catalonia was used by Moscow to demonstrate problems in the European Union and deterioration of the European democracy.
"Despite this public endorsement, Moscow hasn't missed the opportunity to use an issue that -depending on how it is presented- can fit well within its overall narrative of a declining, undemocratic and troubled EU that receives 'a taste of its own medicine' (i.e. 'a colour revolution' or a 'Kosovo-type of unilateral independence')," the paper said.
According to the document, Russian media and "pro-Russian voices" paid much attention to the Catalan crisis. Remarks of whistleblowers Julian Assange and Edward Snowden are cited as examples of pro-Russian figures' support for the Catalan independence.
Authors of the document have also focused on reports by the El Pais newspaper on the alleged Russian meddling in the Catalan crisis.
"The most prominent Spanish newspaper, El Pais, has denounced the interference in the crisis by the 'Russian propaganda machine.' These articles have triggered a public debate, mostly in Spain but not only, about the level of the Kremlin's involvement. While the answer to this question is not obvious, the role played by Russian media outlets and bots seems hardly deniable at this point," the paper said.
El Pais noted that the number of "Russian robots" in Twitter, promoting the topic of the Catalan crisis, increased by 2,000 percent in the wake of the separatist referendum in Catalonia. However, the newspaper cited the data of the Alliance for Securing Democracy (ASD), which is responsible for information struggle against Russian media and is supported by the German Marshall Fund (GMF), which is partially financed by the US government.
The document also published screenshots of tweets with links to news articles of the RT broadcaster and the Sputnik news agency, which were issued during the sharp phase of the crisis. The paper also contains a screenshot of the Rossiya-1 broadcaster, which allegedly predicted a civil war in Spain. However, the tweet showed no evidence that the broadcaster really predicted such an outcome of the Catalan crisis.
Integrity Initiative has also analyzed remarks made by Russian President Vladimir Putin about the crisis in Catalonia. Authors of the document recognized that Putin repeatedly mentioned that the crisis was an internal affair of Spain.
"What it is remarkable is that Putin explicitly mentioned the Catalan referendum conferring implicitly some legitimacy to it. Besides, while he was officially backing Madrid, he was also contributing to the Russian narrative that overstates the dramatism of the situation. Of course, these two points might be considered too subtle to elaborate any explanation on their ground, but they confirm that the Kremlin is keeping a close eye on the crisis," the paper said.
The document also focused on the Russian-Spanish relations, which were characterized as "fluent and friendly, but so far with relatively limited political, social and economic links."
The paper noted that Spain was traditionally viewing Russia as a key partner in tourism and real estate.
"Despite its understanding approach and traditionally low-profile on NATO's Eastern flank (excluding the NATO Policing mission in the Baltics), Spain has now deployed 300 troops in Latvia as part of NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence multinational battlegroups in the Baltic countries and Poland ... These developments have probably not passed unnoticed in Moscow. Is this meddling in the Catalan issue some sort of reminder or message to Madrid from the Kremlin?" the authors said without giving a clear answer to the question.
The document said that a number of Spanish public organizations were supporting the anti-fascist organizations of the self-proclaimed people's republics in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas while Russian famous political scientist Alexander Dugin presented his book in Barcelona.
"This activity and these developments have had a limited political impact. So far, this activity has been restricted to very specific niches, mostly on both extremes. However, step by step, Russia seems to be establishing an extensive network of pawns here and there," the paper noted.
The document concluded that Russia was probably not interested in secession of Catalonia but could use the issue as a tool for reaching its long-lasting goal, divided Europe. From the authors' point of view, the rise of separatism in Catalonia may result in the rise of similar movements in other EU states such as Italy and Germany.
'DIFFICULT' RUSSIA ISSUE IN SPAIN AND WHAT SHOULD BE DONE
The second document is called "Why is it so difficult to address the Russia issue in Spain, and what should be done?" and expresses regret that Russia is not perceived as a threat to national security in Spain.
"Ukraine is not necessarily seen as a European security related issue, but more as a purely post-Soviet affair. Skripal issue: it can be applied the same logic as when the press reports about a brutal assassination and it is presented as a "mafia dispute" (ajuste de cuentas). Then people seem definitely less concerned than when it is presented as the killing of an average citizen. Following this reasoning, many in Spain can think that Russians went too far but only 'former Russian spies' should be truly worried," the document said.
The paper pointed out that the romanticized views about Russia were widespread among the Spanish elites and the public.
"In international politics, Spain tends to always support and adopt a conciliatory tone and pushes for dialogue. This is a reflection of the Spanish political identity when projecting abroad combining a lack of self-confidence in its own capacities and lack of ambition. Tough approaches are left for domestic affairs. Even critical analyses and voices about Russia are sometimes not welcome as are seen as counterproductive and in fact contributing to worsening the relationship with Moscow," the document noted.
The document contained a recommendation for the Spanish authorities to increase the knowledge about today's Russia to raise awareness.
