Poland used various discursive practices to shape diverging social perceptions about two groups of migrants/refugees entering Poland: those crossing from Ukraine, on the one hand, and those crossing from Belarus on the other. The Polish government’s portrayal of the crisis on the Poland-Belarus border as a hybrid war, whilst helping Ukrainian refugees, was presented as being in line with Poland’s national interests.

Poland has been witnessing two very different waves of migration on its eastern border: the arrival of millions of Ukrainian refugees since February 2022, and the arrival of people, predominantly from the Middle East and Africa, through Belarus since June 2021. These two groups are quite different in their nature and origin and arouse different reactions both on part of the Polish authorities and broader society. While those fleeing Ukraine have been warmly welcomed, people trying to enter Poland via Belarus have been predominantly denied the right to apply for asylum and pushed back into Belarusian territory.

Outside attempts to influence the parliamentary elections in Georgia in 2020 began long before the voters went to the polls. A multi-layered disinformation campaign was accompanied by cyber-attacks.

In an attempt to delegitimise grassroots action in Belarus, pro-Kremlin outlets assert that the unrest was orchestrated by outside forces.

Polish authorities have blamed Russia for a cyberattack in April, which planted forged documents and news articles on various military and news websites.

The Kremlin unleashed a multi-channel counter-messaging campaign after it had been made clear Russia’s GRU was behind the attack.

Although Butina pleaded guilty to acting as Russian agent, pro-Kremlin outlets doubled down on disinformation about her arrest and prosecution.

President Zelenskyy’s agreement to the Steinmeier Formula took both Ukrainian and Russian media by storm. Both sides engaged in spreading biased and false narratives.

Conflicting official statements about the Arkhangelsk explosion and strategic information control was reminiscent of a bygone era.

Irrational compromise or defending Russian citizens from their government?

The former President of Georgia has a strained relationship with his homeland. To some a hero, to others a villain - his legacy is much debated, as his time in power was crucial for the country.

The recent Syrian recogntion of Abkhazia and South Ossetia represents a serious challenge for Georgia's foreign policy. Even if it is just the result of Moscow's hold on Damascus, it could have negative repercussions not only for Georgia, but for Syria as well.