Despite the crisis, Moscow with its last efforts is trying to maintain influence in foreign countries, said in the annual report of the Estonian Security Police (KaPo).

  Experts believe that in the future, Russia will seek to expand its influence, and difficult situation in the mass media in Russia creates fertile ground for this.

Even after the budget was cut in 2009, Moscow has provided much more money for propaganda and for an active policy of "compatriots".

"It is obvious that massive attempts, typical for the Soviet system, to exert influence abroad, is in full swing under the present Russian administration. The investors and promoters hope that their costs will pay off one day, with interest. It is therefore important to uncover such aggressive, but sometimes disguised activities, and not to succumb to its influence, and not yield to provocations to engage in battle on the ground, chosen by opponent, and especially with the use of weapons chosen by the enemy", the police experts stress, proposing to use as weapons comprehensive information, critical attitude to sources and analytical skills.

Criminalizing criticism of Stalinism was offered

The formal ringleader of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev said in December last year at a forum of European and Asian mass-media that his country should support the Russian language and journalism abroad. Russian propaganda edia, primarily directed on compatriots, use different programs, aid funds, and private investments.

According to police experts, it is obvious that Russia is trying to expand its influence in the media, to increase the effectiveness of communications and interfere into internal affairs of other countries, using the so-called "soft power".

"Perhaps, in near future, Russia will try to expand the space of influence on neighboring countries and the difficult economic situation in the market of the Russian media inevitably becomes a fertile ground", said in the review.

According to experts, one of the main purposes of Russian psychological warfare is trying to weaken the positions of neighboring countries in the international area. A number of important efforts have been done to create the impression that the situation with Russian-speaking residents of Estonia is very bad, and that the society glorifies Nazism and rewrites history.

Two commissions established by Medvedev in May last year fit into these schemes: a

"commission on counteraction to attempts of falsification of history" and a "commission for promotion of positive image of Russia".

The latter had acted within the Foreign Ministry. It remains fairly closed, and the first one supports, through financial and logistical assistance, various publications and events, developing tactics and strategy.

Financing of Russian propaganda increased even in the crisis

Russia lacks economic and military power to implement its dream to restore the status of a superpower and spheres of influence in former Soviet republics, and now it encourages the creation of myths, to make both their citizens and foreigners think in the right mode. Myths are created using the same soft power, and psychological warfare.

Despite budget cuts in 2009, 30% more money, about 3,3 billion Lituanian litas, have been allocated for propaganda purposes. Russia is the leader among countries that use every opportunity to spread their positions and values: feature films, entertainment shows, advertising, scientific conferences and research, cultural programs, meetings, books. Thus, it wants to influence the subconscious mentality of those who make decisions.

The authors of the report give as an example an international media club Impressum, established in October 2008, which publishes articles, conducts meetings and theme parties with famous members of the media and public figures from Russia and other countries.

Local lecturers are also invited to the event to maintain the bogus "objectivity". Audiences are formed among Russian-speaking media professionals, activists and compatriots. The club organizes competitions and creative workshops and finances visits to Russia by several journalists.

According to police experts, the secret purpose is to engage Estonian journalists and disseminate and present the Russian position through their publications.

The activity of the club is settled up for a long term. The club is trying to convince that Estonia, one of the most developed republics of the USSR_ has become impoverished due to the fact that it is too sharply turned towards the West, and has little cooperation with Russia. To undermine the economic stability, Impressum is spreading rumors about a forthcoming devaluation of national currency.

However, the report acknowledges that Russia receded on some fronts. Allegedly, less active are Russian political manipulations concerning Estonian enterprises with Russian capital. Nevertheless, Russia continues to actively manifest itself in the energy sector.

Policy concerning compatriots - USSR

Soviet/Russian embassy is actively involved in implementing this policy, which is designed primarily for people and organizations with extremist views, the report says. Crisis corrected it. Because of lack of money in Russia, difficulties emerged with the organization of some activities.

However, the main Moscow's goal is to ensure that the compatriots express their gratitude, and leave the impression that there are no changes to the worse in Russian despite the crisis.

The summary of this policy concerning "compatriots" could be explained in 4 English words: coordination, consolidation, communication, protection (CCCP which in Russian means the USSR).

Coordination council of compatriots urged Russian-speaking candidates to the European Parliament to form a combined list. The council meets at the Russian Embassy in Tallinn under supervision of diplomats. It is not registered officially to avoid responsibility for their actions and to cover secret financing.

The head of the department for external economic affairs and foreign relations of the city of Moscow, Georgiy Muradov, arrived to Estonia in February last year, when the organization of "compatriots" (a paid fifth column - KC) held gathering in Tallinn,. He explained to reporters that he had come to rest and visit friends, but actually he visited the embassy and talked to "compatriots".

They agreed there to form a single list of candidates. During the talks, a "motivation package" was allegedly offered - more than 10 million Estonian kroons (2.2 million Lituaninan litas), if certain conditions are fulfilled. It is unclear how much actually allocated, because the single list has not been formed.

"Nashi" do not attract young people

The activities of extremists decay. The organization with the extreme attitudes "Night Watch" almost did not show itself last year. It, as noted in the report, does not have specific goals and strategies. Activists closely monitor everything that is connected with Russia, and painfully react if the country is represented "in a wrong way".

The members of the affiliated Russian organization "Young word" have repeatedly participated in the activities of extremists in Latvia and Finland.

The most active on this front was the current acting leader of Finland's "anti-fascist committee", Johann Beckmann (this hardened Zionist and FSB agent is in one team with a certain Juha Molari, a friend of Russia, operating under the cover of a Luteran pastor and a terrorism suspect Abdullah Tammi, he has been recently denied entry to Estonia - KC).

He has no supporters in his country. He is unlikely that he is able to hold any demonstration in Finland without participants he hires in Estonia. Tickets and money are most important things in such missions for radicals from Estonia.

Beckman does not hide that he draws his "inspiration" from Russia. Interestingly, this left-wing extremist, publicly accused Estonia of "fascism", and he maintains close links with the active national socialists. Last year, he participated in the conference in Vilnius, and criticized the position of Lithuania on the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.

A well-known youth organization "Nashi" is among the extremists, supported by the Russian government. Its activists in Estonia could not meet the expectations of their Moscow's sponsors.

The popularity of "Nashi" among the Russia youth sharply declined. Russia significantly reduced the budget of this youth organization, therefore many members lost their motivations for participation in public actions.

Besides, "Nashi" does not have a clear ideology, which could mobilize young people - not everyone wishes to protest in demonstrations against Estonia, Latvia, Ukraine, Georgia and international organizations every week.

Many understand that participation in such organizations does not guarantee jobs in government agencies, the police report says.