Russian propagandist and political operative tasked with setting up Russian TV networks in Kherson Oblast

OLENA ROSHCHINA – WEDNESDAY, 10 AUGUST 2022, 19:48

A Russian political operative and propagandist, Aleksandr Malkevich, has been charged with setting up access to TV channels that peddle Russian propaganda within the Russian-occupied territories of Kherson Oblast.

Source: Tamila Tasheva, representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, during a press briefing; press release

Details: Tasheva said that Russian-occupied Crimea is playing a crucial part in Russia’s attempts to occupy Kherson Oblast, both in the area of military and of military-civilian activity. In terms of the latter, the Russians are attempting gradually to integrate the newly occupied territories into Russia’s information, cultural, educational, economic and financial spaces.

Tasheva said that Russia’s plans have changed at least four times, in particular with regard to holding a so-called "referendum" [on the accession of Kherson Oblast to the Russian Federation - ed.].

The Russians are attempting to gain the support of the Crimean Tatars living in Kherson Oblast, and have recruited members of a Russian-controlled muftiate [an administrative territorial entity under the supervision of a mufti, an Islamic leader - ed.] in Crimea, as well as several collaborators.

For example, the Russians have set up a "humanitarian aid" distribution point in Novooleksiivka; the aid is delivered there by Enver Abduraimov, a collaborator from Russian-occupied Crimea. Ervin Musaiev from the occupation administration of Crimea is coordinating the process from his end.

Activists, Ukrainian citizens and Crimean Tatars are being abducted from Kherson Oblast and taken to the Russian-occupied territories in Crimea. There, they are charged with extremism or terrorist activity.

The Russians are peddling their deceitful narratives by inundating Kherson Oblast with Russian propaganda. They have limited the locals’ access to the Ukrainian internet and connected all local providers to Crimean networks.

They subsequently started transmitting Crimea-based Russian TV channels and radio stations via the TV and radio facilities they had captured in Kherson Oblast.

Quote from Tasheva: "Aleksandr Malkevich, a Russian political operative and propagandist, has been put in charge of information management and propaganda in [Kherson] Oblast. He will oversee the establishment of [Russian] propaganda TV channels in Kherson."

Details: Russia is drawing on all possible means of spreading propaganda messaging, including the establishment of agricultural partnerships with the Russian Federation, distributing humanitarian aid to local residents, issuing them with Russian passports and pensions, requiring requalification courses for local teachers to ensure they comply with Russian "standards", offering free university education to the local youth, and so on.

Quote from Tasheva: "Over the course of the past eight years, Ukrainian citizens have come to know full well the effects of deceitful Russian propaganda, constant shelling along the line of demarcation, abductions and torture of our fellow citizens in the occupied territories, totalitarian government and corruption."

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