Narrative of the Magnitsky Case: Analysis of the Perception of the Russian Agenda Through the Prism of Information Warfare

The article discusses the issues related to the international reaction to the death of the Russian auditor Sergei Magnitsky and the subsequent actions of the countries concerned. The author paid particular attention to the changing image of Russia and the perception of the Russian reality in the media space of foreign countries. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the Magnitsky affair within the framework of the concept of information warfare. It should be realised through the study of the most significant circumstances that influenced the coverage of the investigation and comparison of considered events with other resonant “cases” that are also commonly referred to as manifestations of the information war. The Magnitsky affair, which was on agenda parallel with the period of warming in relations between Russia and the United States, referred to as the ‘reset’, turned out to be an indicator of the existence of fundamental contradictions between the countries of the West and the Russian Federation. At the same time, mass media, both Russian and of other countries, were divided into two groups, covering mainly one of the components of the events in question: human rights and corruption in Russia or foreign origins of business structures related to Magnitsky. The nature of restrictive mutual measures, known as the “Magnitsky Law” and “Dima Yakovlev Law”, emphasised that the contradictions between the parties have not only a political, but also a deeper ideological aspect. The Magnitsky affair allowed assessing the potential of relations between Russia and foreign states, the ability of partners to compromise and to adequately approach problems in interstate relations. The study identifies patterns that led to an increase in international tension, based on the events of a decade ago, which seem to be of considerable interest in understanding the current situation in the world.

Magnitsky affair, information warfare, international relations, Russia, the USA, mass media, democracy, human rights

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