Pavel Havlicek: The Czech Republic is among the most resilient societies in Central and Eastern Europe

Pavel Havlicek

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has undoubtedly heightened the vulnerability of every country to disinformation. What is happening in the Czech Republic, said Pavel Havlicek, a researcher at the International Affairs Association in Prague.

From time to time, we discuss the current situation with disinformation in the sense of a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. How is the Czech Republic trying to cope with this today?

Czech civil society is often fragmented and has limited influence due to a lack of coordination and exchange of best practices. In addition, public trust in the media is alarmingly low. The Czech political leadership must demonstrate the necessary tools to implement effective strategies that increase social sustainability and help protect the country from hybrid threats. New challenges have arisen due to Russian aggression against Ukraine. Despite polls showing resilience, the Czech Republic remained on the same level as the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The war has set a trend that could ultimately increase the country’s vulnerability, contributing to a growing sense of uncertainty and distrust of the state. After all, only about 10 percent of Czechs believe disinformation and conspiracy theories. The Prague Institute for Security Studies (PSSI) says the Czech Republic is among the most resilient societies in Central Europe and Eastern Europe, despite some declines in usual indicators. This is evidence that the Kremlin’s war propaganda has a limited impact. According to the PSSI 2023 analysis, perceptions of China as a threat rose from 50 to 60 percent after the full-scale invasion, indicating China’s failed attempt to charm CEE. The Influence Project, which focused on Beijing’s digital diplomacy in the region, concluded that China’s efforts to exploit the war in Ukraine for its purposes have failed. The war in Ukraine has highlighted the extent to which Russian and Chinese disinformation strategies overlap.

What should CEE governments pay attention to about resisting Kremlin propaganda?

The Czech authorities took steps after the invasion to counter the wave of propaganda by banning websites known for spreading false content. However, a lack of clear communication has allowed anti-establishment actors to plant narratives that the government does not respect freedom of expression. This applies to the Czech government’s attempts to sever economic and energy ties with Russia and to impose an EU sanctions regime. Despite vocal support for a strong stance against Russia at the European and national levels, state policy has been ineffective, partly due to a shortage of personnel in the groups responsible for implementing sanctions. This has resulted in numerous reports by investigative journalists about sanctions evasion. The media reform has limited the scope for undue political interference and has given additional responsibilities to the upper house of parliament (the Senate) to make media councils and other oversight bodies even more independent of political interference. Despite criticism, Czech television and radio remain an open platform for pro-government politicians, opposition politicians, and other political forces. This has helped to combat disinformation, malign influence, and hybrid threats. However, the mainstream media in the Czech Republic continue to dominate the interests of their owners with their own agendas and economic interests. In addition to mainstream media, the Czech Republic continues to be influenced by dozens of disinformation websites, which have gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic and have gradually shifted to other false narratives since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Some—CZ 24 News, Infokurýr, Nová republika, and Protiproud — have fueled distrust of the Czech government and undermined its policies, particularly in support of Ukraine. However, their influence and readership are quite limited compared to mainstream media.

Deputy Editor-in-Chief (Central Europe and Canada) and Project Manager at V5 Media, Maryna Kovalchuk, contributed.

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