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Ukraine conflict: Inside Russia's 'Kremlin troll army'
BBC ^ | 19 March 2015 | Olga Bugorkova

Posted on 03/21/2015 11:13:19 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper

Over the past year, Russia has seen an unprecedented rise in the activity of "Kremlin trolls" - bloggers allegedly paid by the state to criticise Ukraine and the West on social media and post favourable comments about the leadership in Moscow.

Though the existence and even whereabouts of the alleged "cyber army" are no secret, recent media reports appear to have revealed some details of how one of the tools of Russian propaganda operates on an everyday basis.

The Internet Research Agency ("Agentstvo Internet Issledovaniya") employs at least 400 people and occupies an unremarkable office in one of the residential areas in St Petersburg.

Behind the plain facade, however, there is a Kremlin "troll den", an investigative report by independent local newspaper Moy Rayon ("My District") suggests.

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: blogging; blogs; internet; putin; russia

1 posted on 03/21/2015 11:13:19 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
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To: Berlin_Freeper

Russian trolls are also posting here.


2 posted on 03/21/2015 11:41:56 AM PDT by Krosan
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To: Berlin_Freeper

Putin doesn’t represent the Russian people, he may remain the figurehead so we will have to see how this plays out but for now, I think he’s on the out, gone for 10 days and really not in public view much this past week. He’s close to history except for appearances sake. Still, can’t say never, he conceivably could rise again.


3 posted on 03/21/2015 11:46:50 AM PDT by BeadCounter
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To: Berlin_Freeper

Plenty of them here. They may even make donations too to seem like they’re for real. Real American conservatives couldn’t possibly be in favor of Putin. They might enjoy how he makes Obama look silly, but they couldn’t support Putin’s cruel wars to reestablish the Soviet Empire.


4 posted on 03/21/2015 11:55:43 AM PDT by elhombrelibre (Against Obama. Against Putin. Pro-freedom. Pro-US Constitution.)
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To: Krosan
Russian trolls are also posting here.

Some of the ones here are not smart enough to get paid for it.

5 posted on 03/21/2015 12:23:24 PM PDT by FreeReign
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To: Berlin_Freeper
"there is a Kremlin 'troll den'"


6 posted on 03/21/2015 12:34:20 PM PDT by clearcarbon
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To: elhombrelibre

“cruel wars”

Not trying to start an argument, but are there any other kind?


7 posted on 03/21/2015 12:38:32 PM PDT by Dalberg-Acton
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Putin’s close to “done and dusted” I think. The hit on Nemtsov has set them reeling over there. People aren’t fooled, the system did it whether there was an order or not.


8 posted on 03/21/2015 12:38:46 PM PDT by BeadCounter
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To: Berlin_Freeper

NRO had an article about how Kremlin ordered Russian media to run lies as news way back before Maidan!


9 posted on 03/21/2015 12:40:45 PM PDT by GeronL
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To: GeronL

It’s funny to hear the Putinistas whining about how Maidan is picking on Russia and Putin. Maidan is so powerful and such a danger to Putinstan that the Russians have to wage an illegal and undeclared war on the people of Ukraine.


10 posted on 03/21/2015 1:17:45 PM PDT by elhombrelibre (Against Obama. Against Putin. Pro-freedom. Pro-US Constitution.)
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To: Dalberg-Acton

Well, civilized countries try to make war with as little killing of civilians as possible. The Just War theory is not new. Putin and his type believe in terror not the Laws of War, proportionality, and distinguishing between combatants and non-combatants.


11 posted on 03/21/2015 1:23:49 PM PDT by elhombrelibre (Against Obama. Against Putin. Pro-freedom. Pro-US Constitution.)
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To: elhombrelibre

Sherman waged a cruel war to break the will of the opponent.


12 posted on 03/21/2015 1:30:47 PM PDT by Dalberg-Acton
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To: Dalberg-Acton

So you are comparing Sherman to Stalin? Latter who said there is no neutral or collateral damage, if you do not fight for Stalin you are fair game.

Since when did Sherman force enlist people?

Ah, speaking of Putin trolls.


13 posted on 03/21/2015 1:34:13 PM PDT by lavaroise (A well regulated gun being necessary to the state, the rights of the militia shall no)
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To: Dalberg-Acton

Yes, and we dropped two atomic bombs on Japan and we fire bombed their cities and German cities in WWII. I am fine with all of it, too. Wars, should, as often as possible, not go to the worst cruelties if possible.


14 posted on 03/21/2015 1:37:18 PM PDT by elhombrelibre (Against Obama. Against Putin. Pro-freedom. Pro-US Constitution.)
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To: lavaroise

I thought we were discussing “cruel war”.


15 posted on 03/21/2015 1:54:20 PM PDT by Dalberg-Acton
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To: Berlin_Freeper

That’s surprising. 15 comments and no one has stated, “the Dems do it too,” as if it has any relevance.


16 posted on 03/21/2015 2:06:55 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: elhombrelibre

People can only root for the bad guy when they are the bad guy.


17 posted on 03/21/2015 3:50:56 PM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
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To: 1rudeboy

From Russia with love... and weep, because only us will, not Russians.

http://p-i-f.livejournal.com/6289095.html


18 posted on 03/22/2015 3:42:37 PM PDT by lavaroise (A well regulated gun being necessary to the state, the rights of the militia shall no)
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