Ilta-Sanomat carries material from a new book that suggests Russia used a shooting in Imatra to advance its propaganda goals.
The book is titled Valehtelua, vakoilua ja valtiollista vaikuttamista (Lies, espionage and state-backed influencing) and written by Jouni Mölsä and Markku Mantila.
Mölsä served as head of communications for President Sauli Niinistö, so had a front row seat in watching this unfold.
The 2016 shooting saw three women shot by a man in the eastern Finland town, not far from the Russian border.
Soon afterwards trolley accounts on social media began posting false claims that the women had been Russian and the perpetrator had worked for Finland’s Defence Forces.
Those false claims had to be debunked by Finnish officials, but were likely aimed at Russians inside and outside the country.
The authors ask whether the Imatra operation was part of attempts to persuade Russians that they were under attack outside Russia, offering them a reason to assist Russians outside the country with money and weapons.
5 Likes
