On July 11, 2024, the Center for the Study of Democracy hosted a methodological and discussion seminar for university students, which provided an in-depth exploration of the strategies and techniques used to counter the Kremlin’s Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) operations, drawing on the extensive expertise of the CSD team led by Todor Galev, Director of Research, and two analysts from the Economic Program, Svetoslav Malinov and Connor O'Kelley

Participants learned about developing evidence-based and data-driven policy strategies, utilising media monitoring and audience analysis techniques, and identifying and counteracting media capture. The seminar also examined the methods used by threat actors to manipulate information environments, including case studies on strategic information operations, and explored the media dynamics in strategically important states in Central and Eastern Europe, addressing susceptibility to foreign authoritarian influence and strategic corruption. Through practical exercises and interactive discussions, students gained valuable insights into the complexities of disinformation and the importance of maintaining an informed and vigilant approach to media consumption.