What happened: Kremlin-backed broadcaster RT organized a two-day propaganda film festival in Italy, with screenings held in Bologna.
- The exact location of the event was kept secret until a few hours before it began.
- The initiative is part of RT’s broader “festival of discord” format, combining documentaries, music, debates and guest appearances.
Why it matters: The event highlights Russia’s continued use of cultural platforms in Europe to shape narratives around the war in Ukraine, even as Western governments attempt to limit the reach of Kremlin-linked media.
Details: Films with explicit anti-Western messaging were screened, including titles such as “Bloody Puppets of the West.”
- The audience reportedly included attendees wearing T-shirts featuring the pro-war “Z” symbol associated with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Behind the scenes: Neither organizer traveled to Italy; coordination was handled remotely from Moscow.
What they’re saying: Alexander Pomazuev, Head of International Advocacy at the Anti-Corruption Foundation founded by Alexei Navalny, said on X that the Bologna event represented “not mere ‘Kremlin narratives’ but outright military propaganda in its purest form.”
- Pomazuev added that Italy has increasingly become a platform for Russian influence operations, pointing to repeated attempts to penetrate European cultural and information spaces through Italian venues.
- He also noted that pro-war Russian Telegram channels openly promoted the screening of “Bloody Puppets of the West,” arguing that the film’s title alone reflects the language and framing used by Kremlin propagandists.
From Rome – and Brussels: Pina Picierno, Vice President of the European Parliament, said the event “would not have been possible in any other EU country,” questioning how a network banned across the EU could openly organize a festival in Bologna.
- Writing on X, she argued that responsibilities are “many and widespread,” citing the Italian government’s failure to adopt national measures implementing EU sanctions on RT and Sputnik.
- She also pointed to parts of the political opposition and segments of the media ecosystem for enabling or normalizing pro-Kremlin narratives under a “misunderstood” idea of freedom of expression.
- Picierno warned that Italy risks becoming vulnerable to “cognitive manipulation” linked to Russia’s hybrid warfare and called for a stronger, overdue response.
Previously on Decode39: In an interview published three days before the event, Senator Ivan Scalfarotto (Italia Viva) had already raised concerns about an “itinerant” RT-linked festival planned in the Bologna area, describing its opaque organization and warning it reflected a broader effort to spread Kremlin-aligned narratives in Italy.
The context: The event comes as European authorities continue to monitor and restrict Kremlin-linked media operations across the EU.
- Despite sanctions and bans, RT appears to maintain indirect channels to reach European audiences through cultural and grassroots initiatives.
The bottom line: Even without formal broadcasting access, Russia-linked actors are finding alternative ways to project influence inside Europe, leveraging localized networks and controlled cultural events.
