Washington Free Beacon

Molly McKew

After Shooting of Russian Ambassador, Internet Trolls Have One Message: ‘Franz Ferdinand’

Analysis: In advance of Russia-Turkey-Iran summit, trolls spin up fears of WWIII


Just hours after the shooting of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov on Monday, before his death was confirmed to the press, social media networks in the U.S. and Europe lit up with echoing references to "Franz Ferdinand," the Austrian archduke whose assassination sparked the beginning of World War I. The trend showed all the signs of being a coordinated social media campaign to support a simple narrative in advance of today's summit between the defense and foreign ministers of Russia, Turkey, and Iran in Moscow to discuss next steps in Syria.

Putin’s Sinister Role in the Failed Turkish Coup

Analysis: Pulling Erdogan from Western Orbit is a Russian Objective

Turkish soldiers secure the area as supporters of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan protest in Istanbul's Taksim square


One group that stands to gain significantly from Erdogan’s “purges” are the local proponents of Eurasianist thinking. In the days leading up to the attempted coup, Alexandr Dugin—the Russian ideologue who is the father of the modern “Eurasian Movement” and a favorite Kremlin harbinger of conflict and annexation—was sitting in Ankara, alternatively visiting with leading Turkish Eurasianists and close allies of President Erdogan.

Estonian Report Details Russia’s ‘Hybrid Threat’ to Europe

Combating Russian propaganda increasingly important front in information war


A new report by the Estonian Internal Security Service emphasizes the danger a resurgent Russia and a weakening European Union poses to stability and democracy in the region, highlighting Russian propaganda efforts in recent years.

Ukraine Reformers Under Pressure after Biden Visit

Putin attacks prominence of former Georgian politicians in Kiev

Ukraine parliament


Some of Ukraine’s leading reformers find themselves under attack in the week since U.S. Vice President Joe Biden urged Ukraine’s elected leaders to move faster to enact anti-corruption legislation.

Moscow’s Connection to the Islamic State

Wide belief on the Russian periphery that Moscow supports the extremist group

Vladimir Putin


On Dec. 6, a Ukrainian TV network aired an interview with a man claiming to be a former Russian Federal Security Service agent who specialized in terrorist organizations and counter-terrorism operations.