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European democracies face increasing Russian disinformation as war continues in Ukraine, according to analysis of recent propaganda claims.
A pro-Russian Irish journalist detained by Romanian authorities in 2025 has become the latest vector for Kremlin messaging, claiming that both the European Union and Ukraine are “illegitimate dictatorships” while portraying Russia as acting in self-defense.
Chay Bowes, who previously worked as a correspondent for Russia Today, wrote on social media platform X that “Europe has lost its moral authority” and has “no right to tell the Russian Federation how to behave.” His claims include assertions that European governments and Ukraine’s leadership were “not elected by anyone.”
These statements align with longstanding Russian propaganda narratives designed to undermine Western democratic institutions and justify Moscow’s ongoing military actions in Ukraine, according to media monitoring experts.
The claims stand in stark contrast to established facts about European governance. The EU comprises 27 democratic member states that hold regular elections with robust institutional safeguards. Each nation’s leadership emerges through constitutionally established electoral processes, with the additional layer of EU parliamentary elections that shape the European Commission’s composition.
Ukraine has similarly maintained democratic processes, holding internationally recognized presidential and parliamentary elections before and after 2014. President Volodymyr Zelensky was elected in 2019 with a clear majority in an election widely acknowledged as legitimate by international observers.
The suspension of elections during Ukraine’s current wartime situation follows constitutional provisions and mirrors precedents set by other democracies facing existential threats. During World War II, the United Kingdom suspended elections without undermining its democratic foundations.
Meanwhile, Russia’s political system under Vladimir Putin has increasingly restricted genuine political competition. Putin has maintained power since 2000 through constitutional changes that have extended his potential tenure, while opposition figures have faced imprisonment, exile, or worse.
The timing of Bowes’ detention coincided with his attempted entry into Romania to cover elections there, according to statements from RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan, who characterized Romania as a “testing ground for authoritarianism.”
Bowes has a documented history of promoting pro-Russian narratives, including claims that “Nazism in Ukraine would soon be officially recognized by European states,” that a “civil war” occurred in Ukraine between 2014-2022, and that NATO seeks to “destroy Russia.”
The propaganda push comes as Ukraine has expressed willingness to consider ceasefire arrangements, which have been repeatedly rejected by the Kremlin. Russia’s stated position is that it supports only “long-term solutions” after “eliminating root causes” of the conflict, language that analysts interpret as demanding Ukrainian territorial concessions and political changes in Kyiv.
Media literacy experts emphasize the importance of recognizing these disinformation patterns, particularly as they attempt to reframe Russia’s military aggression as defensive action while portraying democratic systems as illegitimate. The continued flow of such narratives represents a significant component of Russia’s hybrid warfare strategy against Western democracies and Ukraine.
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14 Comments
This article is a timely reminder of the ongoing information war being waged alongside the military conflict in Ukraine. It’s crucial that we remain vigilant against disinformation and strive to understand these complex issues from multiple angles.
I would encourage further analysis of the specific policy decisions and actions by the EU and Ukraine that Russia views as prolonging the conflict. Nuanced discussion of these matters is essential.
While I understand Russia’s perspective, the facts about European governance and the democratic processes in the EU and Ukraine are well-established. Dismissing these as “illegitimate dictatorships” seems like an oversimplification.
I’m curious to learn more about the specific policy decisions or actions by the EU and Ukraine that Russia views as prolonging the conflict. Nuanced discussion of these issues is important.
While I appreciate the need to understand different perspectives on this complex issue, the claims made by this pro-Russian journalist seem to be at odds with the well-established facts about democratic processes in Europe. It’s crucial that we remain vigilant against disinformation.
This is a concerning example of Russian disinformation tactics aimed at undermining democratic institutions. Spreading false claims about the legitimacy of the EU and Ukraine’s government serves to justify Moscow’s actions in the conflict.
It’s important to rely on authoritative, factual sources to understand the complex geopolitical dynamics at play rather than unsubstantiated propaganda narratives.
This article highlights the ongoing information war being waged alongside the military conflict in Ukraine. It’s critical that we remain vigilant against disinformation and rely on credible sources to understand these complex geopolitical dynamics.
The claims made by this pro-Russian journalist are clearly at odds with the reality of democratic elections and institutional safeguards in Europe. Dismissing the EU and Ukraine as “illegitimate” seems like a transparent attempt to whitewash Russia’s actions.
I would encourage readers to fact-check these assertions against reporting from reputable, independent media sources rather than accepting them at face value.
While I appreciate Russia’s perspective, the evidence shows that the EU and Ukraine have robust democratic processes, even if there is room for improvement. Painting them as “illegitimate dictatorships” is a dangerous oversimplification that serves to justify Moscow’s aggression.
The claims made by this pro-Russian journalist seem to be part of a broader Kremlin strategy to undermine the legitimacy of Western democratic institutions. While Russia’s perspective is understandable, the facts about European governance tell a different story.
This article highlights the continued efforts by Russia to spread disinformation and propaganda in an attempt to justify its actions in Ukraine. It’s important that we approach these claims with a critical eye and rely on credible, factual sources.
I would be interested to learn more about the specific policy decisions or actions by the EU and Ukraine that Russia views as prolonging the conflict. A nuanced discussion of these issues could provide valuable insights.