The Kremlin is known for its hybrid warfare. In addition to conventional methods of influence, such as disinformation, propaganda, bot farms etcetera, today Russia attempts to deceive international notorious institutions to push their own narratives and agendas. Such is the nomination of Ruben Vardanyan in August 2023, a Kremlin figure and billionaire, for the Nobel Peace Prize, washing out his reputation in the world view.
Who is Ruben Vardanyan? He gained notoriety after an OCCRP investigation (Troika Laundromat corruption and organized crime scandal) that revealed that his company transferred over $4.6 billion through its accounts to Putin close friends. Vardanyan is also on the several sanctions lists of the European Parliament, USA and Ukraine for being a co-owner of Kamaz, a company supplying the Russian military, as well as having ties to the Iranian Government. In September 2022, he relocated to Nagorniy Karabakh to become its premier only to be jailed a year later by the Azerbaijan side. In this relocation move, some saw the hand of Putin with a goal to control the region through Vardanyan.
Who nominated an oligarch is unknown, according to the rules of the Nobel Committee. After the news started to be actively promoted by the Russian media, which showed a planned campaign, 123 deputies from 4 countries from Ukraine and European parliaments, have signed collective letters requesting to reject his candidacy in 2024 and further years due to the claim that it will damage the reputation of the Western institutions. Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Ukraine all stated in their open letters that it is “dangerous and unacceptable to nominate a person that supports terrorism and separatism and that is involved in the corruption scandals”.
Yet even with the strong support of the deputies,many will see just a nomination and nothing else. “Russians appetites are growing, and this requires ever-new methods of influence with which the countries of the free world are not yet familiar and against which they have no defense These methods can fool even very experienced and respected international institutions”, said Yuriy Kamelchuk, Ukrainian deputee, on the press conference in Brussels.
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