Between February of last year and this February, data analysts from the analytical portal Texty.org.ua monitored 21 Czech websites, examining nearly 168 tisíc posts, their sources, and the mutual sharing of texts. According to the analysis, two-thirds of these sites contained pro-Russian manipulative and propagandist claims, collectively drawing ten million visits per month. Similar connections have also been described by prior Czech studies.
Analysis of Pro-Russian Narratives Across Czech Media
The authors of the study describe the strategy of the Kremlin by stating, “The Kremlin does not behave like a sprinter, but like a marathon runner. It does not rely on an immediate effect, but on frequent repetitions of key messages.” According to the findings, Russian information operations long-termly seek to weaken trust in media and democratic institutions, divide society, and lower support for Ukraine, which Moscow has attacked since 2022. Experts point out that individuals drawing news from disinformation media reside in a parallel reality, think differently than ordinary people, and avoid serious media outlets.
Addressing the mechanics of content dissemination, the authors of the analysis assert, “A mere link to a Russian source does not mean that the information is false, nor that the web is directed by Moscow. The risk arises mainly when the web takes over propagandist or manipulative content without verification and context, and the text then begins to circulate as verified domestic news.”
Specific Websites Highlighted in the Study
The study draws significant attention to the web Czech Free Press. Nearly 40 percent of nearly bezmála tří tisíc monitored links from the site led to Russian or pro-Russian sources, with nearly a thousand pointing to the Rusvesna server, which long-termly publishes news and commentaries supporting the Russian side of the war in Ukraine. The editor-in-chief of the website is Miroslav Suja, deputy chairman of the Slovak movement Republika, which political scientists designate as far-right, euroskeptical, and populist. In the past, the web also published texts directly designated as taken over “from Russkaya Vesna.”
Kristina Šefčíková from the Prague Security Studies Institute—an organization dealing with security, foreign policy, and the protection of democratic institutions—warned about the evolution of these networks. “The disinformation scene has transformed from anonymous and confusing websites into familiar faces who are building their own brand and fans, even with the help of manipulative content. They often connect their online activity with ways to profit from it,” Šefčíková noted.
Detailed Findings on InfoKurýr, Nová republika, and Protiproud
Another server drawing the attention of the study’s authors is InfoKurýr. Nearly 4,700 problematic links formed 16.2 percent of all links and led to 159 different domains, most frequently to the RT, InfoBRICS, and Anti-Spiegel servers or the Russian state agency TASS. The takeover of Russian sources by InfoKurýr had been previously addressed by the Czech Ministry of the Interior, which described on concrete examples how the server interprets propagandist and disinformation claims of the Kremlin. Furthermore, the Ukrainian experts’ analysis counted over 200 articles on the site written by Anti-Spiegel author Thomas Röper, who lives in St. Petersburg and has been on the European Union sanctions list since last year due to disinformation.
InfoKurýr is operated by the Teplice organization International Association of Journalists. However, documents regarding its financial management are missing from the Collection of Deeds, and public documents do not reveal how the operation of the web is funded. When asked by Novinky how InfoKurýr verifies taken-over information and where its operation is funded from, Martin Patočka responded on behalf of the editorial staff by stating, “We do not intend to comment on the inquiries of this media cesspool.”
The website Nová republika also links to Russian or pro-Russian sources, most frequently to Ukraina.ru, Topwar, InfoBRICS, RT, or the Russian state agency RIA Novosti. Nová republika was founded by Ivan David, a former lawmaker and Minister of Health for the ČSSD, who is today a Member of the European Parliament for the SPD. Until the autumn of 2024, he served as the chairman of the association of the same name that operates the website, and he continues to regularly publish articles on its pages. The web asks readers for financial contributions, yet fails to publish financial statements in the Collection of Deeds.
“We do not communicate with Novinky. We do not like media that betray our national interests, side with Nazism, and spread hatred among nations,” representatives of the website replied to inquiries from Novinky regarding their funding or the verification of published information. David himself did not respond to the sent questions.
The authors of the analysis likewise monitored the Protiproud website, whose jednatelem is Petr Hájek, the former spokesperson for President Václav Klause. The Czech company operating the web has been owned since 2024 by the American company Westinvest, registered in the United States—with publicly available data offering no indication of who its owner is.
Did You Know? The analysis examined nearly 168 tisíc posts across 21 Czech websites between February of last year and this February, uncovering pro-Russian manipulative and propagandist claims in two-thirds of the studied outlets.
Expert Insight: As researchers and security analysts point out, modern disinformation efforts rely less on short-term shocks and more on the long-term, repeated reinforcement of strategic narratives. When unverified foreign propaganda is laundered through domestic portals without context, it gradually alters public perception and isolates audiences inside alternative information ecosystems.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many websites were examined in the analysis?
The analytical portal Texty.org.ua monitored 21 Czech websites between last February and this February.
What percentage of the monitored websites contained pro-Russian claims?
Pro-Russian manipulative and propagandist claims were found in two-thirds of the 21 monitored websites.
Who owns or operates the website Protiproud?
The website Protiproud is operated by a Czech company whose jednatelem is Petr Hájek. Since 2024, the company has been owned by the US-registered American company Westinvest, though public data does not show who owns Westinvest.
How do you think readers can best distinguish between verified domestic reporting and unverified foreign content circulating online?
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