{"id":116792,"date":"2020-03-03T17:42:00","date_gmt":"2020-03-03T15:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/?p=116792"},"modified":"2022-08-02T10:49:57","modified_gmt":"2022-08-02T07:49:57","slug":"the-curious-case-of-janus-putkonen-the-sequel-finnish-case-of-russian-disinformation-continues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/the-curious-case-of-janus-putkonen-the-sequel-finnish-case-of-russian-disinformation-continues","title":{"rendered":"The curious case of Janus Putkonen: the sequel. Finnish case of Russian disinformation continues"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

co-authored by Marko Enqvist<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the key principles of disinformation is to feign the public support for its messages. Through the vast network of seemingly independent actors \u2014 experts, think-tanks, journalists, former or current politicians sharing Moscow\u2019s agenda (often for a substantial pay-check) \u2014 at home and abroad the Kremlin creates a vicious circle of propaganda. It reaches even the states that are most immune to the foreign information influences, such as Finland. Ukraine Crisis Media Center in cooperation with journalist Marko Enqvist has previously explored the case, focusing on Janus Putkonen<\/a> and keeps track of the issue, sharing new details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A propagandist of Finnish origin, Putkonen is one of the local warlords at the Moscow\u2019s information front, tasked with spreading pro-Kremlin disinformation first via DONi News, then through MV-lehti<\/em>, a media focused on \u201ca mixture of anti-Ukrainian messaging with anti-Western conspiracy theories\u201d. His activities, however, go beyond, and a significant part of them is focused on Toimittajaliitto <\/em>\u2014 The Union of Finnish Reporters Official, \u2014 which is ironically presented as a union for free speech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association takes a typical for conspiracy-oriented sources stance of sharing \u201chonest\u201d and \u201calternative\u201d points of view \u2014 while the origins of these points are rooted in the Kremlin. This is evidenced by the very web-site domain, which was created on July 10, 2018, with the IP address location in Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The IP address was moved to the US on December 17, 2019, when Toimittajaliitto <\/em>started getting more traction and the association\u2019s leaders \u2014 Janus Putkonen, Juha Korhonen and Jarmo Ekman \u2014 were uncovered. All of them are linked to MV-lehti<\/em> and amplify pro-Kremlin messaging from other actors as well. J.Ekman, for example, repeatedly criticizes George Soros, a frequent target of the Kremlin\u2019s attacks, promotes a \u201cUkraine on Fire\u201d film by Oliver Stone that presents a fully Russian perspective on Ukraine, denies the Kremlin\u2019s meddling in the American 2016 elections etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Connection between Toimittajaliitto <\/em>and MV-lehti<\/em> yet again evidences how different participants of disinformation networks mutually expand reach and influence. They repeatedly share each other\u2019s materials, and do so in coordinated manner. In addition to gaining access to the larger audience, this also blurs the line between harsher and softer versions of disinformation. Toimittajaliitto <\/em>presents itself as a more professional resource, and cooperation with MV-lehti <\/em>ensures an added spillover effect to conspiracy theories and anti-Western rhetoric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is worthwhile to know that Ukraine has already recognized the threat behind the platforms, as their coordinators J.Putkonen and J.Ekman were sanctioned for fueling the war. The relevant screenshot below demonstrates similar measures imposed on Johan Backman, Putkonen\u2019s close associate, who was also involved in a massive online harassment movement, this time in Finland itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The target of this campaign was Finnish journalist Jessikka Aro, focused on researching Russian \u201ctrolls\u201d and bots. In particular, her attention was locked on the infamous Internet Research Agency, linked to the Russian oligarch Yevgenii Prigozhyn and involved in meddling with the American presidential elections \u2014 the very one that coordinators of Toimittajaliitto <\/em>and MV-lehti <\/em>vehemently deny. Backman, particularly, accused Aro of doing the Washington\u2019s bidding in her research, echoing yet another Kremlin\u2019s talking point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This case highlights how disinformation is never a single state\u2019s problem. While the propagandists target both Ukrainian and Finnish security, it is up to both sides to enhance cooperation in countering malign foreign influence and offer a systemic, coordinated response to an equally systemic and coordinated threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

co-authored by Marko Enqvist One of the key principles of disinformation is to feign the public support for its messages. Through the vast network of seemingly independent actors \u2014 experts, think-tanks, journalists, former or current politicians sharing Moscow\u2019s agenda (often for a substantial pay-check) \u2014 at home and abroad the Kremlin creates a vicious circle […] More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":116793,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[700,699,611],"tags":[6246,6245,1248],"section":[726],"form":[31943],"yoast_head":"\nThe curious case of Janus Putkonen: the sequel. Finnish case of Russian disinformation continues | UACRISIS.ORG<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"co-authored by Marko Enqvist One of the key principles of disinformation is to feign the public support for its messages. 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