Oriental Review

Oriental Review
Type of site
Political magazine
Founded2010
Headquarters
Moscow[1]
Area servedWorldwide
Key peopleSophia/Sophie Mangal[a]
IndustryPolitics and international relations
URLhttps://orientalreview.org/

Oriental Review (OR) is an online magazine that describes itself as "an international e-journal focusing on current political issues in Eurasia and beyond".[2] It was founded in 2010.[2] Despite its claims of editorial independence, the website has been described as under the control of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR).

In March 2022, it was described by the British and American governments as under the control of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), Russia's primary external intelligence agency, founded among other online magazines for the purpose of promoting disinformation abroad.[3][4] The United States Department of the Treasury said:

Both media outlets spread many types of disinformation about international organizations, military conflicts, protests, and any divisive issues that they can exploit. ... New Eastern Outlook and Oriental Review are being designated pursuant to [Executive Order] 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf, directly or indirectly, the [Government of the Russian Federation].[5]

According to the Atlantic Council, it has been linked to the Strategic Culture Foundation (SCF), a Russian think tank and online magazine that is regarded as an arm of Russian state interests by critics.[6] The website has been described as in the same online ecosystem as pro-Russian network of online media outlets Russia Insider, The Duran, Geopolitica.ru, MintPress News, the Centre for Research on Globalization,[7] the New Eastern Outlook magazine,[4][5] online news sites NewsFront, SouthFront, Moscow-based think tank Katehon,[8] the Center for Syncretic Studies, 4pt.su, Eurasianist Archive, Fort Russ, and the Voltaire Network.[9]

Promotion of conspiracy theories

The Treasury accused the Russian government of promoting disinformation regarding the Russo-Ukrainian War and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as promoting COVID-19 disinformation, through Oriental Review.[4][5] The website has also promoted conspiracy theories surrounding the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury, England, by Russian agents using the novichok nerve agent.[1] It has also promoted conspiracy theories on climate change, claiming that climate change mitigation measures are neo-Nazi in intent.[10]

Sanctions

Owing to its reputed links to Russian intelligence services, Oriental Review was subject to official sanctions from the American and British governments following the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.[11][12][13][14][15]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Also a staffer for Inside Syria Media Center, a suspected disinformation website.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Poulsen, Kevin (5 September 2018). "Alleged Russian Operatives Spreading Fake News Sneak Back Onto Facebook". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b "About". OrientalReview.org. 30 January 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2022. ORIENTAL REVIEW is an international e-journal focusing on current political issues in Eurasia and beyond. The initiative is launched [sic] in February 2010 by a group of freelance bloggers and political analysts concerned with the aggravating security situation in the world.
  3. ^ Burgess, Christopher (22 March 2022). "Internet sanctions against Russia pose risks, challenges for businesses". CSO Online. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Gordon, Michael R.; Volz, Dustin (March 7, 2021). "Russian Disinformation Campaign Aims to Undermine Confidence in Pfizer, Other Covid-19 Vaccines, U.S. Officials Say". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 28, 2022. New Eastern Outlook and Oriental Review, the official said, are directed and controlled by the SVR, or Russia's foreign intelligence service. They present themselves as academic publications and are aimed at the Middle East, Asia and Africa, offering comment on the U.S.'s role in the world.
  5. ^ a b c "Treasury Sanctions Russians Bankrolling Putin and Russia-Backed Influence Actors". United States Department of the Treasury. March 3, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2022. Russia's SVR directs two additional disinformation outlets, New Eastern Outlook and Oriental Review. Both media outlets spread many types of disinformation about international organizations, military conflicts, protests, and any divisive issues that they can exploit. Recently, both outlets spread false information to undermine COVID-19 vaccines... In 2022, Oriental Review shared content that denigrated the United States' handling of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. New Eastern Outlook and Oriental Review are being designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf, directly or indirectly, the GoR.
  6. ^ "Facebook takes down assets linked to Russian disinformation outlet". DFRLab. Atlantic Council. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  7. ^ "How a Little-Known Pro-Kremlin Analyst Became a Philippine Expert Overnight". Coda Media/Rappler. 8 February 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  8. ^ "GEC Special Report: August 2020 Pillars of Russia's Disinformation and Propaganda Ecosystem" (PDF). state.gov. United States Department of State. August 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  9. ^ Bevensee, Emmi (18 September 2020). "How COVID and Syria Conspiracy Theories Introduce Fascism to the Left. Part 2: The Red-Brown Media Spectrum". Centre for Analysis of the Radical Right. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  10. ^ "The Kremlin on Global Warming: Connecting the Dots; Disconnecting the Facts". EUvsDisinfo. 23 September 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  11. ^ "UK expands asset freeze designations following new powers, and aligns export restrictions with G7 allies". White & Case. 16 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  12. ^ Kern, Rebecca (3 March 2022). "Treasury sanctions Russian online outlets for spreading disinformation". Politico. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  13. ^ Breuninger, Kevin; Franck, Thomas (3 March 2022). "U.S. imposes new sanctions on pro-Putin Russian oligarchs and their families over Ukraine invasion". CNBC. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  14. ^ Ungoed-Thomas, Jon (20 March 2022). "West hits Vladimir Putin's fake news factories with wave of sanctions". The Observer. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  15. ^ "US Actions on Russia and Russia-related Sanctions". The National Law Review. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.