Event 916

{
  "category": "InfoOps",
  "confidence": "Low",
  "confidence_rationale": "Multiple independent sources, internal communications, and confirmation by Baltic security agencies provide strong support. The detailed examples and financial records increase assessment reliability.",
  "countries": [
    "Russia",
    "Latvia",
    "Lithuania",
    "Estonia",
    "Ukraine",
    "Czechia",
    "Australia"
  ],
  "country": "Unknown",
  "defense_prep": {},
  "description": "Leaked documents reveal the Russian state-backed Pravfond has, for over a decade, supported Russian intelligence operations, espionage, sabotage, and disinformation in the Baltics and other countries. The fund, under humanitarian guise, provided grants to spies, criminals, pro-Russian militants, and funded pro-Kremlin propaganda operations including legal defenses for individuals charged with espionage and sabotage, and disinformation campaigns across Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.",
  "event_time_utc": "2025-05-25T12:00:00Z",
  "evidence": [
    "Leaked emails acquired by Danish broadcaster DR and shared with OCCRP identify Pravfond's covert activities advancing Kremlin agendas.",
    "Security agencies in Estonia (KAPO) and Latvia have publicly tied Pravfond’s affiliates to Russian intelligence.",
    "Specific cases such as the support for accused saboteurs in Latvia and Crimea are detailed, identifying direct financial support for espionage and sabotage activities.",
    "Grants and operations continue during periods of heightened sanctions, indicating persistent and intentional foreign influence."
  ],
  "evidence_quotes": [
    "Russian State-Backed Fund Aids Spies, Criminals, and Propagandists Abroad",
    "But leaked internal emails, obtained by Danish broadcaster DR and shared with OCCRP and other partners, reveal its true role: advancing Kremlin interests abroad through funding spies, pro-Russian militants, and propaganda.",
    "Baltic states and Ukraine are among its main targets. Around 20% of its known grants were directed to Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia",
    "Estonia’s internal security agency KAPO described Pravfond as an ‘extension of Russian intelligence’ that manages Russian diasporas abroad.",
    "Latvian security director Normunds Mežviets said many Pravfond affiliates present themselves as scholars or legal advocates while working directly for Russian intelligence",
    "In Latvia, the fund helped Sergei Sidorov, a taxi driver convicted of spying for Russia and attempting sabotage. Pravfond paid €5,000 for his defense.",
    "The leaked archive reveals cases like Alexander Franchetti, who in 2014 organized a paramilitary unit aiding Russian forces in Crimea ... Czech authorities charged him with espionage and sabotage.",
    "Pravfond has also supported disinformation campaigns, such as funding a history textbook justifying Soviet occupation of Lithuania and sponsoring pro-Kremlin Tg channels and media outlets."
  ],
  "evidence_urls": [
    "https://www.linkedin.com/posts/irina-kopanytsia_russian-state-backed-fund-aids-spies-criminals-activity-7332260334289801216-tFtz",
    "https://lnkd.in/eipPDQwU"
  ],
  "extra": {
    "category_raw": "Russian Influence/Propaganda",
    "extra": {
      "extra": {
        "extra": {
          "evidence": [
            "Leaked emails acquired by Danish broadcaster DR and shared with OCCRP identify Pravfond's covert activities advancing Kremlin agendas.",
            "Security agencies in Estonia (KAPO) and Latvia have publicly tied Pravfond’s affiliates to Russian intelligence.",
            "Specific cases such as the support for accused saboteurs in Latvia and Crimea are detailed, identifying direct financial support for espionage and sabotage activities.",
            "Grants and operations continue during periods of heightened sanctions, indicating persistent and intentional foreign influence."
          ]
        }
      }
    }
  },
  "follow_up_by_country": [],
  "headline": "Russian State-Backed Fund Aids Spies, Criminals, and Propagandists Abroad",
  "media_assets": [
    {
      "description": "Screenshot capture",
      "type": "screenshot",
      "url": "/media/event_916_1763942703_09fc2256.jpg"
    }
  ],
  "notes": "Investigation revealed ??Pravfond, a Russian state-backed fund, is financing espionage, criminal networks, and propaganda abroad.",
  "schema_version": "v1",
  "screenshot_count": 1,
  "sources": [
    "https://www.linkedin.com/posts/irina-kopanytsia_russian-state-backed-fund-aids-spies-criminals-activity-7332260334289801216-tFtz"
  ],
  "summary_short": "Russian state fund Pravfond exposed for aiding espionage, sabotage, and pro-Kremlin propaganda across Baltic states and beyond.",
  "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/posts/irina-kopanytsia_russian-state-backed-fund-aids-spies-criminals-activity-7332260334289801216-tFtz"
}

{
  "5th Column of Russians Inside (which countries)": "",
  "Attack Type": "Russian influence/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": "",
  "Date": "25-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": "Investigation revealed ??Pravfond, a Russian state-backed fund, is financing espionage, criminal networks, and propaganda abroad.",
  "Political Disruptions w/ Laws to Favor Kremlin (which countries)": "",
  "Russian-Belarus Terrorist Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL)": "Book funded by ??Pravfond supported spies, criminals, and propagandists abroad",
  "Russian-Belarus Terrorist Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL) REF LINK": "https://www.linkedin.com/posts/irina-kopanytsia_russian-state-backed-fund-aids-spies-criminals-activity-7332260334289801216-tFtz",
  "Screen Snapshot": "",
  "Screen Snapshots": "",
  "Type Dropdown": "Propaganda",
  "Where?\n(Air, Land, Sea)": ""
}