franakA Dinner Conversation with Francisak Viačorka on Russian media propaganda strategies and tactics

The speaker is a distinguished journalist, expert on Russian disinformation, and serves as the Creative Director of Radio Free Europe in Belarus.

 

 

Francisak (Franak) Viačorka will discuss Russian techniques and methods to manipulate the media and influence public opinion in Belarus and other neighboring countries to further Russian foreign policy and dominance.  This lecture will give an overview of the Kremlin’s efforts to dominate the information space, to build the sovereign Internet, launch separate DNS and GPS systems, disorganize western democracies through narratives injection and identity manipulations. Some recent examples from the European Union, Ukraine, and Belarus will be provided.

 

Francisak (Franak) Viačorka is the Vice President of the Digital Communication Network. He concurrently works as the consultant for U.S. Agency for Global Media, and Creative Director of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Belarus service.
 

Franak is a well-known expert on Russian disinformation.  Recently he researched Kremlin-backed Media, think-tanks, NGOs abroad, and the role of the Russian Orthodox church.  He has served as a consultant for the U.S. Department of Defense, Freedom House, and the Broadcasting Board of Governors. He also coordinated the project on mapping digital influencers, conducted by Digital Communication Network.
 

Franak is a frequent speaker and an advocate for democracy and personal freedom. For his activism and journalist work in Belarus, he was multiple times jailed by the regime of Alexander Lukashenka. Franak’s activism in Belarus has been chronicled by documentary filmmakers and recognized by many international organizations including the National Endowment for Democracy, Freedom House, Open Society Foundations. He was the first Vaclav Havel fellow for RFE/RL under Havel’s personal recommendation.
 

As the journalist, he is a co-author of award-winning multimedia projects, documentaries, and feature films. Franak has conducted more than 50 training courses on digital communication and New Media for activists and journalists from Europe and the United States. Franak is the organizer and mentor of LaunchMe Media Accelerator, aiming to build collaboration between media and IT in Eastern Europe.
 

Franak graduated from American University in Washington D.C. and Warsaw University in Poland; he also studied at Georgetown University and the College of Europe and European Humanities University
 

Registration
Harvard Club members and their guests: $45/person
Non-Members: $65/person
Ticket includes talk, full dinner, and drinks
 

Menu

Roasted Beet salad

Chicken Stroganoff

Poached Salmon with Cucumber and dill

Braised Red Cabbage

Pierogis with caramelized onions

Sliced Fruit

Apple strudel

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Venue

This venue is fully handicap accessible and our meals are designed to accommodate vegetarians.

The nearest metro station is Metro Center. Exit at 12th and F Street, NW. Your destination is the building named "Columbia Square" which will you see right in front of you as you exit the escalator.

There are several nearby parking garages including:

  • Columbia Square Parking Garage: 555 12th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004 (202) 637-8105

  • Parking Management: 600 13th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004 (202) 347-5469

 

When:

6:30PM - 8:30PM Wed 1 May 2019, Eastern timezone

Where:

Hogan Lovells
555 13th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004

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