The testimony offers insights into the daily work of the Kremlin-controlled media machinery – on top of adding new knowledge about one particular Kremlin propaganda classic.
Instructions from the Kremlin
Back in 2011, the official outcome of the elections to Russia’s parliament, the State Duma, was questioned by many Russians, some of whom even took to the streets with protests.
And Russian state TV only added fuel to this fire when it announced results in some of Russia’s regions, which added up to more than 100%.
More precisely, 146%. This was the total sum of the support for the political parties in the region of Rostov-on-Don in the south if Russia, as it was presented by Rossiya 24 in 2011 (see the screenshot above).
The incident then gained a lot of attention, but Leonid Krivenkov can now explain how it could happen:
“Your turn to lie”
In the interview, the former camera operator also explains how many employees at the state TV channel are fully aware of their lying and even joke about it, for example by saying, “your turn to lie” on the internal communication channels before switching over to a colleague.
But we also learn about how negative economic incentive is used to secure observance of the propaganda rules from the employees: According to Mr. Krivenkov, the formal salary offered by VGTRK is extremely low, and most of the real salary is paid as bonuses – which can be withdrawn if employees deviate from the propaganda line.
Not the first time
Rossiya 24 is a part of the radio and TV broadcasting company VGTRK; a state structure which also controls a number of other TV and radio channels, including Rossiya 1 TV.
Leonid Krivenkov’s testimony echoes similar stories told by previous whistleblowers, notably that of Dmitry Skorobutov, who revealed details about Kremlin control on Rossiya 1, including written versions of the so-called “temniki” guidelines used by editors to not cross the red lines.
And the incident with the 146% does also not stand alone. It has inscribed itself in the series of cases when human mistakes make cracks appear in the surface of the disinformation output.
The interview with Mr. Krivenkov was first broadcast in Russian on radio, but later published online in English by RFE/RL.
For examples of disinformation broadcast Rossiya 24 or its sister channel, Rossiya 1, follow this link to the EUvsDisinfo database.
Read RFE/RL’s full interview with Leonid Krivenkov in English here: ‘Your Turn To Lie’: Former Russian State TV Cameraman Describes ‘The Business Of Misinforming Viewers’
Further reading:
- “We Don’t Promote the English Queen’s Anniversary!”
- US indictment sheds light on the Russian troll factory instruction system
- Guide to Russian propaganda
- Disinformation in 2018: Twelve Embarrassing Moments
- The Double White Lines of Russian Journalism
- “Russophobia” as a Russian propaganda tool
- How Russian TV-channels promote pro-Kremlin narratives in talk shows
- KT – Kremlin Today
- Seven strategies of domestic Russian propaganda
- You won’t believe how RT brainwashes its population
- Inside RT and Sputnik: What is it like to work for Kremlin’s propaganda media?
