Stergios Efthymios Kyratzopoulos’ Post

🔎 How should we respond to narratives about “good Russians”? 🧭 This Saturday in Kyiv, Holka (The Needle) convenes journalists and civil society for discussion labs of #Bridges_of_Ukraine — our Margaryta Sytnik project countering disinformation and culturewashing. 🗣️ Our colleague Kateryna Pokotylo, language mentor at Holka, works with participants to develop shared message boxes (“one voice”) for international dialogue on responsibility. 📄 Kateryna’s column “Culturewashing: How Russia Remains Welcome While Killing Ukrainian Children” for The Page frames this week’s focus: why it is important to respond to narratives about “good Russians”. 🤝 We welcome partners who support clarity of language as a foundation of democratic resilience. More: https://lnkd.in/gj3QcyJH #Holka #Bridges_Ukraine #Disinformation #Culturewashing #Democracy #FreedomOfSpeech #Ukrain

🤝 Can Ukraine’s unity withstand the test of war? The war has turned Ukraine’s internal cohesion into a literal "resource for survival". Yet Russia is systematically trying to undermine that unity by fueling distrust and reactivating familiar "scripts" of polarization In our article "The Social Contract at War: Mobilization, Legitimacy, and Post-War Cohesion in Ukraine", we explain why today’s key fault lines run less along a "West–East" geographic divide and more along governance quality and people’s sense of fairness 📌 Explore the key takeaways in the PDF slides. Read the full report via the link in the comments

The spread of disinformation in Kosovo is not accidental — it is structured, targeted, and increasingly influenced by external actors. Our latest report, “Mapping Disinformation: Russian and Serbian Narratives in the Media and on Social Networks in Kosovo”, provides a detailed analysis of how disinformation ecosystems operate, who drives them, and how narratives are amplified across media and digital platforms. The findings highlight a concerning trend: coordinated efforts to shape public opinion, deepen divisions, and undermine trust in democratic institutions, often through narratives linked to geopolitical interests. At the same time, the report maps the pathways through which these narratives travel, from traditional media to social networks thus offering critical insights for policymakers, media professionals, and civil society. Understanding how disinformation spreads is the first step toward effectively countering it. This report aims to contribute to that effort, by informing strategies, strengthening resilience, and supporting evidence-based responses to one of the most pressing challenges for democracy today. https://lnkd.in/dTHyrANk Kreshnik Gashi, Visar Prebreza, Labinot Leposhtica, Shqipron Xhema, Iliriana Hoti, Ariana Berisha, Luljeta Beselica, Valon Fana, Adeline Ahmeti #Disinformation #Kosovo #MediaIntegrity #DigitalRights #FactChecking #Democracy #BIRN #KALLXO#InternewsKosova

Happy to share a new (open access) paper by Olga Onuch and I in East European Politics. In Russia’s war against Ukraine, we find that ~80% of Ukrainian civilians report engaging in the war effort. But who does what, and why? We explore how different motivations are linked to different forms of participation. Using 5 waves of survey data (2022-2024), we show that how people engage in Ukraine's war effort varies: Combat roles = linked to rejecting territorial compromise Civilian action = linked to civic duty & support for democracy Wartime engagement isn’t one thing, rather different motivations may align with different forms of action And the connection we identify between civic duty, democratic commitment and engagement in Ukraine challenges assumptions that war must undermine democracy. Find the paper here: https://lnkd.in/eE_kQ3gP

Israel has successfully branded itself as the “Start-up Nation,” projecting a glossy, modern, tech-optimist state. This strategy of techwashing serves a fascistic political agenda, securing international legitimisation and support for the ongoing colonisation of Palestine, while inspiring other authoritarian, tech-dystopias worldwide. https://lnkd.in/epKc9vQ8

European policy discourse often lacks the conviction that the European project is worth defending. Yet, while European strategic visionary thinking is waning, Ukraine has not forgotten about the importance of the EU 🇺🇦🇪🇺 In our latest #EuropeChats episode, Analyst Klara Lindström tells Mariam Khotenashvili how Ukraine can inspire the EU ⬇️ Watch the full episode 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e7TccSNc Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies (SCEEUS) European Policy Institute in Kyiv (EPIK)

The world only cares about deeply discounted Iranian oil that has been doled out for 50 years to buy vote at UN and other disfunctional institutions

Iran is in the middle of the most significant upheaval since the 1979 revolution. The question of what comes next for Iran is no longer a policy debate. It is the defining geopolitical story of 2026. And it demands understanding far beyond what headlines can offer. At the centre of this story is the People’s Mojahedin (MEK)- an organization now discussed in every newsroom in the world. Everyone is reporting on them. Almost no one is explaining them. Two years ago, I produced a documentary called The Children of Camp Ashraf. It is the only film in which people who grew up inside the MEK speak on camera. Amir, Parwin, Hanif, and Atefeh were separated from their parents as children and sent from the organization’s military base in Iraq to foster families in Sweden- raised to become soldiers in a fight they never chose. Thirty years later, they are still trying to find their parents, lost inside this organisation. This is not a film about geopolitics. It is a film about what happens to children when they become instruments of ideology. A story that resonates far beyond Iran: child soldiers, separated families, radicalization, and the long aftermath of political movements that consume their own. It is the kind of story that needs to reach audiences now- while the world is paying attention, and before the conversation narrows to military strategy and diplomatic deals. The people beyond the headlines deserve to be seen. Directed by Sara Moein. Available to watch now on Vimeo.

I don’t usually post about politics here, but recent rhetoric about conflict and escalation is deeply concerning. History has shown that no nation or civilization—especially #Iran with more than thousands of years of cultural heritage—can simply be erased. At the same time, attacks on infrastructure and civilian systems often bring widespread suffering without necessarily leading to stability, freedom, or democracy. I hope for restraint, de-escalation, and solutions that prioritize human lives and long-term democracy. #ProtectCivilians

We’re pleased to share the launch of Engaging the Global Ukrainian Community for Ukraine’s Recovery, a major new report authored by Professor Maria Koinova (PAIS, University of Warwick) in partnership with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). The report highlights why the Global Ukrainian Community - over 20 million people worldwide - plays a crucial role in Ukraine’s long‑term recovery. It outlines pathways for strengthening democratic participation, protecting human and minority rights, deepening institutional engagement, and supporting EU accession. The launch webinar, hosted with ICMPD and OSCE‑ODIHR, is now available in English and Ukrainian. You can find out more here https://buff.ly/jlOOgnP A significant contribution to understanding how global diasporas can shape post‑war futures as we mark the fourth anniversary of the conflict.