Russian Playbook: Foreign Infor­mation Manip­u­lation and Inter­ference (FIMI) in Armenia, Georgia, Germany, Moldova, and Ukraine

 ‌ 29. Jul 2026  
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Russian inter­ference across the EU and its eastern neigh­bourhood takes many forms: election inter­ference in Moldova and Armenia, anti-Western conspiracy theories in Georgia, infor­mation warfare alongside military aggression in Ukraine, and manip­u­lation of public debate in Germany illus­trate the different forms of Russia’s FIMI (foreign infor­mation manip­u­lation and inter­ference). While Moscow adapts its methods to different national contexts, its activ­ities follow a common playbook aimed at exploiting societal divisions, weakening democ­ratic insti­tu­tions, and advancing Russian geopo­litical interests.

The five country studies in this dossier examine Russia’s FIMI playbook in Armenia, Georgia, Germany, Moldova, and Ukraine. They analyse:

  • strategic objec­tives and narra­tives of Russian FIMI;
  • its tactics, actors, and channels; and vulnerabilities,
  • responses to FIMI, remaining gaps, and lessons for strength­ening democ­ratic resilience.

The country studies are part of LibMod’s Eastern Partnership Plus Programme, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.

Ukraine has been a target of Russian information manipulation and interference for more than a decade – on a scale closely intertwined with military force, cyber operations and occupation governance. The analysis shows which narratives, platforms and methods Russia uses to undermine trust, intensify war fatigue and weaken the resilience of Ukrainian society.

Russian Playbook: Foreign Infor­mation Manip­u­lation and Inter­ference (FIMI) in Ukraine

Policy Paper 

 

3. Sep 2026

Ukraine has been a target of Russian infor­mation manip­u­lation and inter­ference for more than a decade – on a scale closely inter­twined with military force, cyber opera­tions and occupation gover­nance. The analysis shows which narra­tives, platforms and methods Russia uses to undermine trust, intensify war fatigue and weaken the resilience of Ukrainian society.

Armenia is seeking to reduce its foreign and security policy dependence on Russia while expanding its ties with the EU and other Western partners. Moscow is responding with political and economic pressure as well as targeted influence operations. The analysis shows how Russia exploits existing fears, conflicts and dependencies to discredit Armenia’s Western orientation and preserve its influence over the country.

Keeping Yerevan in Moscow’s Orbit: Russia’s FIMI Playbook in Armenia

Policy Paper 

 

3. Sep 2026

Armenia is seeking to reduce its foreign and security policy depen­dence on Russia while expanding its ties with the EU and other Western partners. Moscow is responding with political and economic pressure as well as targeted influence opera­tions. The analysis shows how Russia exploits existing fears, conflicts and depen­dencies to discredit Armenia’s Western orien­tation and preserve its influence over the country.

Germany is at the center of Russian influence operations - not only because of its political and economic significance, but also due to societal vulnerabilities that are being deliberately exploited. The analysis examines the strategies Russia is using to destabilize German democracy and the resulting implications for European security.

Russian FIMI in Germany

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7. Aug 2026

Germany is at the center of Russian influence opera­tions — not only because of its political and economic signif­i­cance, but also due to societal vulner­a­bil­ities that are being delib­er­ately exploited. The analysis examines the strategies Russia is using to desta­bilize German democracy and the resulting impli­ca­tions for European security.

Russia is using targeted information manipulation in Moldova as part of a comprehensive hybrid strategy to destabilize democratic processes and undermine trust in state institutions. However, the experience in Moldova shows that resilience, good governance, and democratic oversight are more effective responses to this than censorship alone.

The Russian FIMI Playbook in Moldova

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6. Aug 2026

Russia is using targeted infor­mation manip­u­lation in Moldova as part of a compre­hensive hybrid strategy to desta­bilize democ­ratic processes and undermine trust in state insti­tu­tions. However, the experience in Moldova shows that resilience, good gover­nance, and democ­ratic oversight are more effective responses to this than censorship alone.

Georgia's information environment has undergone a fundamental shift. Pro-Russian influence operations are no longer driven primarily by external actors, such as Kremlin-controlled media, but increasingly by domestic actors, including the Georgian Dream government. As a result, anti-Western disinformation has entered Georgia's political mainstream.

Inter­nalized FIMI — How Russian infor­mation manip­u­lation became domestic political commu­ni­cation in Georgia

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29. Jul 2026

Georgia’s infor­mation environment has undergone a funda­mental shift. Pro-Russian influence opera­tions are no longer driven primarily by external actors, such as Kremlin-controlled media, but increas­ingly by domestic actors, including the Georgian Dream government. As a result, anti-Western disin­for­mation has entered Georgia’s political mainstream.

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