Riigikogu chief: Europe must learn from Ukraine on Russian disinformation

Ukraine's experience is vital to increasing Europe's resilience in the face of Russia's disinformation, President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar (Eesti 200) said to Ukrainian Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications Mykola Tochytskyi on Friday.
Hussar and MP Liina Kersna (Reform), chair of the Riigikogu's Cultural Affairs Committee, met with Tochytskyi in Tallinn to discuss boosting cooperation in strategic communications — a move they said would help societies better recognize and resist Russian information operations, according to a press release.
"Strategic communications and countering Russia's disinformation are an issue not only for Estonia and Ukraine; it is an issue that needs to be addressed together with our allies and partners," Hussar said. "In increasing the resilience of European countries, it is important to learn from Ukraine's experience."
Tochytskyi shared insights from Ukraine's ongoing information war, including concerns about the Moscow Patriarchate's influence and ties between the Moscow-backed Orthodox Church and the Russian Armed Forces.
Kersna highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in spreading misinformation, stressing the need to bolster public resilience through education.
"Russian bombs have been killing civilians, destroying homes and Ukraine's cultural heritage for years," Kersna acknowledged, "And there's an equally merciless war being waged on the information front."
Tochytskyi also emphasized the importance of societal unity and media literacy in resisting Russian propaganda efforts.
While bilateral strategic communications ties are already strong, both sides acknowledged the potential for broader cooperation between institutions in both countries.
Click here for more photos from Friday's meetings with Tochytskyi at the Riigikogu.
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Editor: Aili Vahtla