Policy Brief: Narratives and Perceptions of Russian Propaganda in Kyrgyzstan

This policy brief is based on a full IWPR and EUCAM report. The research for this study analysed Russian propaganda in Kyrgyzstan from 24 February 2022 to 1 December 2022. First, a research team in Kyrgyzstan mapped the major Russian media outlets in the country. In a second stage, the researchers collected, categorised, and analysed news items from six Russian TV channels, three newspapers, and one online news portal, and established a content database. All this is presented here as ‘message sent’. At the same time, six focus group discussions were held across Kyrgyzstan (two per location in Bishkek, Naryn, and Osh) to assess how Russian propaganda is consumed and regarded. The latter is presented here as ‘message received’.