Event 873

{
  "attack_type": "Propaganda",
  "category": "InfoOps",
  "confidence": "Low",
  "confidence_rationale": "Multiple forms of evidence provided, including direct screenshots of group chats arranging payments, public reporting by credible accounts, and photos of the participants at embassies; narrative aligns with known previous Russian info ops.",
  "countries": [
    "Estonia",
    "European Union"
  ],
  "country": "Russia",
  "defense_prep": {},
  "description": "Russian government-linked organizations reportedly paid young people to stage protests outside EU embassies in Moscow before May 9th, offering payments for participation and spreading pro-government messaging to influence public opinion and media coverage. Evidence includes screenshots of payment arrangements and group chat confirmations.",
  "event_time_utc": "2025-05-08T12:00:00Z",
  "evidence": [
    "Thread includes screenshots of group chat arranging the protest and confirming payments.",
    "Photo evidence of the protests at embassies.",
    "Identifiable involvement of youth organizations linked to the government."
  ],
  "evidence_quotes": [
    "Russian paid young 'protestors' 1,000 rubles (for every exit) to stand outside even embassies of EU nations in Moscow before the May 9th parade",
    "Payments were likely made with mobile app transfer on-site after the event. A list of those who responded to calls in chat groups was compiled so that the police would know whom not to detain.",
    "Two identifiable pro-government youth organizations were involved: Volunteerskoye Rion and Molodyaya Gvardiya."
  ],
  "evidence_urls": [
    "https://t.me/Novaya_Gazeta/20027"
  ],
  "extra": {
    "category_raw": "Propaganda",
    "extra": {
      "extra": {
        "extra": {
          "evidence": [
            "Thread includes screenshots of group chat arranging the protest and confirming payments.",
            "Photo evidence of the protests at embassies.",
            "Identifiable involvement of youth organizations linked to the government."
          ]
        }
      }
    }
  },
  "follow_up_by_country": [],
  "headline": "Russia paid young 'protestors' to stand outside EU embassies of EU nations in Moscow before May 9th parade",
  "location_text": "Moscow, EU embassies",
  "media_assets": [
    {
      "description": "Screenshot capture",
      "type": "screenshot",
      "url": "/media/event_873_1763941259_25997dfe.jpg"
    }
  ],
  "notes": "Young ??Russians paid 10 euros each to simulate grassroots protests near EU embassies.",
  "schema_version": "v1",
  "screenshot_count": 1,
  "sources": [
    "https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1920863107682853213.html"
  ],
  "summary_short": "Russian state-linked groups organized and paid protests at EU embassies in Moscow before May 9, spreading coordinated messaging.",
  "url": "https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1920863107682853213.html"
}

{
  "5th Column of Russians Inside (which countries)": "",
  "Attack Type": "propaganda",
  "Borders Including Sea, Air,  Violation or Sabotage (which countries)": "",
  "Continuous? (e.g. Jammers)": "",
  "Country (FI;EE;LV;LT;PL;BSR;Air)\nSeparated by Semicolon": "EE;EU",
  "Date": "8-May-25",
  "Defense Prep Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL)": "",
  "Defense Prep Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL) REF LINK": "",
  "Follow-Up Link?  (FI,EE,LV,LT,PL, BSR, Air)": "",
  "Follow-Up NOTES": "",
  "Follow-Up incl. Investigation, Prosecution?  (FI,EE,LV,LT,PL, BSR, Air)": "",
  "Latitude, Longitude (WGS84, Decimal Degrees)": "",
  "NOTES": "Young ??Russians paid 10 euros each to simulate grassroots protests near EU embassies.",
  "Political Disruptions w/ Laws to Favor Kremlin (which countries)": "",
  "Russian-Belarus Terrorist Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL)": "??Russia stages paid protest outside 11 EU embassies before May 9 parade. (Paid article)",
  "Russian-Belarus Terrorist Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL) REF LINK": "https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1920863107682853213.html",
  "Screen Snapshot": "",
  "Screen Snapshots": "",
  "Type Dropdown": "",
  "Where?\n(Air, Land, Sea)": ""
}