About Vatnik Prize
Mission
Vatnik Prize is a public database of Russian propagandists operating in the West. We track individuals who deliberately promote pro-Kremlin narratives, disinformation, and conspiracy theories across traditional media, social platforms, and civic spaces. Every entry is sourced and confidence-rated based on public evidence.
Why This Matters
Russian state actors and aligned networks have invested heavily in propaganda campaigns designed to influence public opinion in Western democracies. These campaigns target divisive social issues, seed distrust in institutions, and promote narratives favorable to Russian interests.
Vatnik Prize makes these networks transparent by documenting who these propagandists are, what they promote, where they operate, and how they are connected. This transparency enables researchers, journalists, and informed citizens to recognize and resist coordinated disinformation.
Methodology
Every profile in Vatnik Prize is built on public evidence. We do not rely on leaks, classified material, or unverified allegations.
Sourcing
Profiles are compiled from open-source research: published interviews, social media accounts, journalism, conference appearances, financial disclosures, and other public records. Each profile includes a Sources section linking to the evidence we used.
Confidence Levels
Confidence ratings reflect the quality and volume of public evidence:
- Verified: The person has publicly confirmed their role in propaganda work, or there is overwhelming public evidence of deliberate promotion of pro-Kremlin narratives.
- High Confidence: Multiple reliable sources document consistent patterns of promoting specific narratives or coordinating with known propaganda networks.
- Medium Confidence: Good evidence of involvement with propaganda outlets or repeated promotion of pro-Kremlin talking points, but pattern is less extensive or recent sources are limited.
- Suspected: Some evidence of coordination or narrative promotion, but gaps remain; further evidence needed for higher confidence.
Narratives
We catalog recurring pro-Kremlin talking points and disinformation narratives — claims about NATO, Ukraine, the West, historical events, and other topics — and track which propagandists promote them. This reveals coordinated messaging patterns.
Connections
We document co-authorship, organizational affiliations, conference attendance, and funding relationships. The Network graph visualizes these connections, making it easier to spot coordination.
Scope & Limitations
Geographic Focus: Vatnik Prize focuses on propagandists operating in English-speaking Western democracies and European nations. While Russian propaganda is global, our capacity for research and monitoring is concentrated in these regions.
Public Evidence Only: We rely exclusively on publicly available information. Profiles do not appear until evidence is sourced and reviewed. Unpublished profiles remain private until editors confirm the content meets our standards.
Incomplete: Vatnik Prize is a living database. New profiles are added as research progresses. The absence of a name does not mean that person is not involved in propaganda — it may simply mean research is ongoing or evidence has not yet been synthesized.
What This Is Not
- A legal finding or accusation — we document public evidence, not conclusions for courts.
- A registry of Russian diaspora or all Russian citizens — we track individuals who deliberately promote propaganda.
- A list of all people who express pro-Russian views — only those engaged in coordinated propaganda work.
- An exhaustive census — our database reflects ongoing research and public sources available to us.
Data Use & Access
Vatnik Prize data is public and freely available. Researchers, journalists, and developers can:
- Browse profiles online in the Directory
- Export the database as CSV or JSON via the Directory interface
- Query the API directly via Supabase (read-only, no authentication required for public data)
All data is provided as-is for research and journalism use. Please cite Vatnik Prize when you use this data.
Corrections & Feedback
Found an error? Have a tip? Spot a propagandist we should investigate? Email tips@vatnikprize.org. All submissions are reviewed by editors against public evidence.
Support This Project
Maintaining this database requires research, fact-checking, and hosting costs. If you find Vatnik Prize valuable, consider supporting us: