The panel was chaired by Mr. James Rogers, Co-founder and Director of Research at the Council on Geostrategy, United Kingdom. It brought together a distinguished group of experts including Ms. Ana Revenco, Head of the Centre for Strategic Communication and Countering Disinformation and former Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova; Ms. Alina Bârgăoanu, Senior Associate Expert at New Strategy Center and Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Public Relations at SNSPA, Romania; Mr. Sascha Fahrbach, International Technology and European Affairs Journalist from Austria; Ambassador Shota Gvineria, Faculty Member specializing in Defense Studies and Cyber Policy at the Baltic Defence College, Georgia; and Mr. Tal Pavel, Founder and Director of CyBureau – The Institute for Cyber Policy Studies, Israel.

The panel examined Russia’s cognitive warfare strategies aimed at undermining democratic systems through election interference, disinformation, and manipulation of public perception. Speakers highlighted how such tactics exploit both digital and traditional media, using cyber tools and influence operations to destabilise societies and erode trust in institutions. Emphasis was placed on building societal and institutional resilience, developing strategic communication frameworks, and engaging the public, especially youth, in defending democratic values. Several speakers referenced recent examples of interference in the 2024 elections in Moldova, Romania, and Georgia as evidence of Russia’s ongoing hybrid tactics. The session concluded that countering these threats requires unified, strategic, and cross-border efforts to bolster democratic defences.

Watch the live sessions on YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/89RK68zlL58?feature=share