Russian Propaganda Narratives Take Root in Italy

Italian Journalist Promotes Kremlin Narratives in Western Media Campaign

Russian propaganda efforts continue to find platforms in Western Europe, as evidenced by a recent article published in the International Affairs magazine. The piece was authored by Eliseo Bertolasi, who heads the Italian branch of the “International Russophile Movement,” an organization whose name clearly signals its political orientation.

Bertolasi’s article directly criticizes the Italian government’s foreign policy, claiming that instead of focusing on domestic priorities like “social welfare, healthcare, prosperity, jobs,” Italian authorities are primarily concerned with “convincing Italians of the necessity of war with Russia.” He portrays Russia as being unfairly labeled a “dictator and aggressor state” through what he describes as a “methodical campaign carried out daily through leading media outlets.”

This rhetoric employs a classic propaganda technique increasingly used by Kremlin-aligned voices in Europe: creating a false dichotomy between domestic and foreign policy concerns. The underlying suggestion is that European nations should concentrate exclusively on internal matters while ignoring international developments, regardless of how these global events might impact domestic issues.

The article attempts to shift responsibility for current tensions away from Russia’s actions and onto European Union countries, implying that it is the EU preparing for aggression rather than responding to Russia’s own military campaigns. Bertolasi lists what he claims are the “true goals” of Western “hysteria,” including frightening people with the notion that “Putin will come and eat you,” presenting war with Russia as inevitable, and justifying massive military spending.

This narrative contains a striking irony. While Kremlin-aligned media regularly celebrates Russia’s growing military-industrial complex and weapons programs, these same voices criticize similar defense investments by Western nations as wasteful and provocative.

Another key element in Bertolasi’s messaging targets the EU leadership specifically, portraying Brussels as an overreaching central authority that disregards member states’ independence and interests. This serves the broader objective of undermining European unity and solidarity—a consistent goal of Russian influence operations. Notably, the article places “Putinism” in the same category as fascism, racism, and homophobia, a comparison that inadvertently reveals the negative associations now linked to support for Russia’s policies.

Against this backdrop, Bertolasi attempts to portray Russia as a comparative bastion of democracy. He criticizes Ukraine’s efforts to assert cultural independence from Russia, characterizing these as “persecution” and “destruction,” while dismissing Russia’s full-scale military invasion as something not worth substantial concern.

The article further claims that beneath Western concepts of “democracy” and “freedom of speech” lies “a harsh authoritarian society, closed-minded and intolerant of any form of pluralism.” This accusation is particularly striking given that Bertolasi writes freely from Italy without fear of repercussion, while in Russia, citizens face arrest and imprisonment for merely “discrediting the army” through public statements.

Moscow’s propaganda machine continues to promote these false narratives with dual aims: whitewashing Russia’s war against Ukraine and other aggressive policies while simultaneously working to destabilize EU member states politically and fracture European unity. Bertolasi’s prominent platform in International Affairs magazine demonstrates how these influence operations continue to find Western outlets willing to amplify Kremlin-aligned messaging.