From Tbilisi to Tromsø: Patterns in Russian Information Manipulation

What links Europe’s post-Soviet space and the Arctic? Despite being thousands of kilometres apart, both regions share borders with Russia. And both regions are on the frontline of information operations conducted by the Russian state.

Drawing on a wealth of expertise, this Arctic Frontiers Open event will explore the common patterns of Russian malign influence, information manipulation, and hybrid operations across Europe, with in-depth focus on the post-Soviet space and the Arctic. The event seeks to identify recurring patterns in Russia’s operational model while also examining the specific vulnerabilities of individual European states and regions, and how these are targeted and exploited.

On 3 December, the leaders of the EU Awareness Centre think tank, Dr. George Robakidze and David Dondua, will visit Tromsø to discuss their observations of foreign information manipulation and interference. They will be joined by experts from UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Professor Kari Aga Myklebost and Professor Stian Bones, who have long monitored subversion and hybrid threats in the Nordic Arctic.

Together, they will explain and analyse how Russia’s strategic disinformation model works – from Tromsø to Tbilisi – and unpack what this means for the Arctic.

As the region reckons with growing internationalisation and politicisation, join UiT and Arctic Frontiers in Tromsø for an evening of insightful and stimulating conversation.

EU Awareness Centre

The EU Awareness Centre is a recently established “Brussels-based independent, non-partisan think tank committed to strengthening democratic resilience, promoting European values, and supporting Georgia and other EU-aspiring countries on their path toward EU integration.” The Centre has been registered under the Transparency Register of the European Union since 21^st March 2025.

Georgia is a country which has endured sustained and heavy political pressure from Russia (including armed conflict, most recently in 2008).

The EU Awareness Centre uses a framework called “foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI)” to analyse Russian activity.