While the chorus of voices accusing Russia of meddling in other nations’ affairs has been largely concentrated in the U.S., on occasion the Russians have also been used as convenient scapegoats for the resurgence of populism and other “anti-establishment” positions in the European Union. For instance, France’s recent election and the rise of Marine
Spanish Media Blames “Russian Meddlers” For Catalan Referendum Crisis
There are many reasons for news and images from the historic and tumultuous Catalan day of voting on independence going viral. Yet it seems that “Russian meddling” has become an all-but-reflexive explanation for both embarrassing underlying events and their viral coverage.