On October 19, 2023, the U.S. Department of State's Special Report, titled: "Exporting Pro-Kremlin Disinformation: The Case of Nova Resistência in Brazil" published a report that highlights the activities of "Nova Resistência" (New Resistance), a neo-fascist organization with ties to Russia's disinformation network.[1] Together with Fort Russ News (FRN) and the Center for Syncretic Studies (CSS), they form the Syncretic Disinformation Network (SDN). This network promotes Aleksandr Dugin's Fourth Political Theory, which aims to unite far-right and hard-left groups to undermine global democracy and international order. New Resistance actively supports authoritarian regimes, particularly in Latin America, and has engaged in paramilitary activities. FRN disseminated pro-Kremlin disinformation before shutting down in February 2022, while CSS served as an academic cover for their activities. The individuals involved have connections to Russian government-linked actors, including Alexandr Dugin, a strong advocate of Russia's invasion of Ukraine; businessman Kostantin Malofeyev, who calls for a return of the Russian Empire and whose foundation is accused of moving Ukrainian children to Russia, and the late Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner Group.
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The following report highlights the leaders' reactions (on behalf of the organization) to the U.S. Department of State's Special Report on the national-revolutionary political organization "Nova Resistência," according to their comments on social media outlets, including Telegram, X, and YouTube.
Raphael Machado and Lucas Leiroz, Leaders of Nova Resistência, Reacted to the State Department’s Special Report
On October 20, 2023, an official response to the State Department report was published on the organization's website and announced by Raphael Machado on his Telegram account.
In response to the State Department's report, Nova Resistência leaders questioned the characterization of the group, highlighting its international activities, and challenged the accusations of malign influence. The leaders suggest the U.S. should address its internal issues. The statement acknowledged that there were genuine concerns but aimed to address and refute inaccuracies or misrepresentations in the report. Right before the picture of members of the organization, which feature Machado and Leiroz in the forefront, the subtitle summarized the report as follows: "Expressing concern about the potential growth of nationalism in Brazil, particularly of a multipolar and anti-Atlantic nature, the U.S. Department of State has dedicated a report to 'Nova Resistência,' portraying us as a threat to its interests in the continent. This is true. Nevertheless, it is necessary to dismantle some false claims made in the report."
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