Opinions

The referendum on Moldova's accession to the EU: a risky political maneuver?
The referendum on Moldova's accession to the EU: a risky political maneuver?

The government says that the referendum on EU accession will clearly show the population's options. However, some see the public consultation set for fall as an electoral maneuver that could backfire against its initiators.

Risks in the Black Sea region: Turkey – a factor of instability and a source of migrants
Risks in the Black Sea region: Turkey – a factor of instability and a source of migrants

The consolidation of Turkey’s presidential regime, to the detriment of the rule of law and in defiance of Western partners, will generate instability in the Black Sea region and trigger a wave of migrants towards the EU.

Experts: humanity, threatened by extreme weather and disinformation
Experts: humanity, threatened by extreme weather and disinformation

Extreme weather phenomena and disinformation are considered by experts to be among the greatest risks facing humanity in the medium and short term. There are also concerns about the risk of societal polarization and cyber security, according to the report on global risks  drawn up by the World Economic Forum in Davos (WEF).

Poland: lasting political war, or the last struggles of the conservatives?
Poland: lasting political war, or the last struggles of the conservatives?

Polish conservatives are seething after losing control over public media and two PiS MPs were arrested. Is it the end of Kaczyński-style politics, or the beginning of a lasting political war?

The US bombs Yemen. Major risk of escalation of the Middle East conflict
The US bombs Yemen. Major risk of escalation of the Middle East conflict

The US and the UK have bombed targets in Yemen. The operation, aimed at deterring further attacks by the Houthi militia in the Red Sea, could cause an escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.

Climate, humanity's first truly global issue
Climate, humanity's first truly global issue

2023 showed how serious the climate change issue really is. Although efforts have been made to switch to green energies and reduce emissions, the crisis is far from being resolved.

Ukraine 2023: Top PROPAGANDA, FAKE NEWS AND DISINFORMATION narratives debunked by Veridica
Ukraine 2023: Top PROPAGANDA, FAKE NEWS AND DISINFORMATION narratives debunked by Veridica

In 2023, Moscow used fake narratives to justify its aggression in Ukraine. In addition, NATO, the EU and the United States continued to be Russian propaganda targets.

Marin Gherman
05 Jan 2024
Bulgaria: the year in disinformation and ambiguous narratives
Bulgaria: the year in disinformation and ambiguous narratives

2023 marked Bulgaria's exit from political crisis with the formation of a pro-Western government. On the other hand, he continued pro-Russian narratives continued to be promoted.

The Republic of Moldova in 2023: Top FAKE NEWS & DISINFORMATION narratives debunked by Veridica
The Republic of Moldova in 2023: Top FAKE NEWS & DISINFORMATION narratives debunked by Veridica

The narratives were launched / amplified by Moscow and pro-Russians, and the theses included Moldova’s involvement in the war in Ukraine, an attack on Transnistria and EU rapprochement.

Veridica
29 Dec 2023
Romania 2023: Top FAKE NEWS & DISINFORMATIONS debunked by Veridica
Romania 2023: Top FAKE NEWS & DISINFORMATIONS debunked by Veridica

The colonization of Romania, the war in Ukraine, conspiracy theories related to the "sanitary dictatorship" and climate change have been the favorite topics for most of the year’s false narratives.

Cezar Manu
28 Dec 2023
A united Europe must include Ukraine
A united Europe must include Ukraine

The European Council's decision to start accession negotiations with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova and to grant candidate status to Georgia indicates Brussels' desire to play a more active role in foreign policy. There are several reasons for this.

Yevhen Mahda
23 Dec 2023
The OpenAI crisis and the computer apocalypse
The OpenAI crisis and the computer apocalypse

The recent scandal at the OpenAI company has refueled fears about a potential apocalypse triggered by computers, although for the time being the threat seems anchored in the distant future.

Estonia is preparing to resist attempts at destabilization on its border with Russia
Estonia is preparing to resist attempts at destabilization on its border with Russia

Finland closed its land border with Russia due to a hybrid threat, and Estonia may follow suit, although it has not done so yet.

Poland: Conservatives cling to power despite losing election
Poland: Conservatives cling to power despite losing election

The struggles of the Polish conservatives to retain power as much as possible after losing the elections, but also the process of taking over the government by pro-Europeans, were enjoyed as a public spectacle.

The EU greenlights accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova. Hungary continues to oppose the move
The EU greenlights accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova. Hungary continues to oppose the move

The European Council has greenlit EU accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova despite Hungary’s opposition. Veridica has examined Budapest’s counterarguments and the way the announcement was received in Kyiv and Chișinău.

Veridica
15 Dec 2023
Hungary: Russian - style sovereigntist law and anti-European discourse
Hungary: Russian - style sovereigntist law and anti-European discourse

A Russian-inspired sovereigntist law proposed by Viktor Orban's party targets the press, civil society and the opposition. In parallel, FIDESZ promotes anti-EU messages in the election campaign.

Moldova: why does the Metropolitanate of Moldova want to distance itself from Moscow
Moldova: why does the Metropolitanate of Moldova want to distance itself from Moscow

The Metropolitan Church of Moldova has criticized the Moscow Patriarchate, as Moldovan priests are calling for the annexation of their Church to the Romanian Patriarchate. The latest developments are tied to the Russian Patriarch’s support for the war in Ukraine.

Ukraine, pushed towards Russia by pressure from allies and domestic issues
Ukraine, pushed towards Russia by pressure from allies and domestic issues

The lack of progress on the front, domestic issues and allies’ fatigue may push Ukraine towards a peace with Russia. This would lead to a break with the West and fuel Moscow's imperialist ambitions.

Cosmin Popa
04 Dec 2023
Bulgaria Braces for a Longer, Uphill Battle to become a Schengen /ciuntry
Bulgaria Braces for a Longer, Uphill Battle to become a Schengen /ciuntry

Bulgaria is sobering for the fact that the uphill battle to become part of the Schengen Area is far from over and even out of the country’s immediate control of the events.

In the White House race, the Baltics are rooting for Joe Biden
In the White House race, the Baltics are rooting for Joe Biden

There are worries in the Baltic States that a new Donald Trump may mean chaotic US policies. If Joe Biden stays, it would be “business as usual”.

“There is no point in importing someone else’s conflict to us”
“There is no point in importing someone else’s conflict to us”

In Estonia, Hamas’ attack on Israel and the subsequent military operation in Gaza were perceived as a threat to the country’s own security.

Bin Laden would probably have those sharing his letter killed
Bin Laden would probably have those sharing his letter killed

Bin Laden’s “Letter to America” is an ultimatum and a death threat to the collective West. Many of those hailing and sharing it are the very people al-Qaeda would hunt.

The aggressiveness of Putin’s regime is hardly evidence that “Russians are barbaric”
The aggressiveness of Putin’s regime is hardly evidence that “Russians are barbaric”

The aggressiveness of Putin’s regime has been described as a trait of the Russian people. The same pseudo-scientific generalizations were also used to describe Nazi Germany.

Russia grabs Georgian land as it tries to keep the Caucasus country out of the EU
Russia grabs Georgian land as it tries to keep the Caucasus country out of the EU

The recent killing of a Georgian by Russian troops brought into spotlight Moscow’s policy of encroaching of Georgian land. It was also an attempt to sabotage Tbilisi’s EU integration.

Diana Shanava
15 Nov 2023
Iran and Hezbollah do not want a war in the East, but they might trigger it
Iran and Hezbollah do not want a war in the East, but they might trigger it

Attacks by pro-Iranian Shiite groups have fueled concerns about an escalation of the war in Gaza. Iran doesn't seem to want a war, but a miscalculation could escalate the situation.

In the war between Israel and Hamas, Turkey picked the losing card.
In the war between Israel and Hamas, Turkey picked the losing card.

Turkey refused to condemn Hamas’ attack and criticized Israel in hopes of electoral gains for Erdoğan's Islamists. However, Turkey's regional interests will suffer.

Latvians still support Ukraine, but many lost their enthusiasm
Latvians still support Ukraine, but many lost their enthusiasm

The Latvians have been less involved lately in helping Ukrainians, as the war fatigue and domestic economic problems are taking their toll. However, the level of support is still high.

Climate change revisionism, boosted by populism and “economic interests”
Climate change revisionism, boosted by populism and “economic interests”

Populist rhetoric defending “economic interests” and the real economic costs undermine the fight against climate change, fueling climate revisionism.

Sanctions targeting Russia are bypassed by EU entities. The Estonian case
Sanctions targeting Russia are bypassed by EU entities. The Estonian case

Estonia has pleaded tough sanctions against Russia, and yet Estonian entities and persons – even from the Prime minister’s family – have been breaking some of the existing sanctions.

Will the Israel-Hamas war have the same effect as Yom Kippur?
Will the Israel-Hamas war have the same effect as Yom Kippur?

The war pitting Israel against Hamas could produce long-lasting effects, from a resurge of Islamist terrorism and compromising any hope of reconciliation between Israel and Arab countries, to the destabilization of the entire Middle East.

Will Israel's wartime government save Netanyahu's political future?
Will Israel's wartime government save Netanyahu's political future?

Israelis were shocked that Hamas had organized such a large-scale attack without the security services finding out. Will Netanyahu pay the political price for this failure, or will the formation of an emergency government save him?

(Pro)Russian propaganda sees connections between biological weapons and the Nova Kakhovka dam
(Pro)Russian propaganda sees connections between biological weapons and the Nova Kakhovka dam

Russia has claimed for years that Ukraine has biological laboratories and says its attack was meant to destroy those labs. The narrative was also included in the disinformation about the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam.

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Fake News

Disinformation uses a variety of manipulation tactics. Disinformation stories can easily be created by combining provocative topics.

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