Russia's Worldwide Information Manipulations on Telegram and X: A Pilot Study

This pilot study from the Community of Democracies examines something that most FIMI analysis overlooks: the use of Russia's official diplomatic channels — embassies, foreign ministry accounts, state media amplifiers — to conduct information manipulation on Telegram and X. Taking the UK, Japan, and Argentina as case studies, the report traces how Russian diplomatic infrastructure functions as a FIMI vector operating in plain sight, with the cover of diplomatic legitimacy.

The study's contribution is both empirical and methodological. Empirically, it documents the scope and consistency of Russian diplomatic FIMI across very different target countries — demonstrating that this is a systematic doctrine, not an opportunistic tactic. Methodologically, it develops a situational awareness framework specifically for diplomatic practitioners, filling a gap left by analytical tools designed for intelligence or academic audiences. For anyone advising embassies, foreign ministries, or international organisations on FIMI awareness, this is a directly relevant operational resource.