The event was opened by Christoph Plate, Director of the KAS Media Programme South East Europe, together with Solomon Passy, President of the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, and Dimitar Mihaylov, representative of the the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The discussions moderated Kristina Baxanova from BTV Media Group.
Christoph Plate's keynote opening presentation examined Russia's long-term geopolitical ambitions in Africa, tracing its influence from the Cold War to present-day military and political interventions. He underlined the similarities between the Sahel and the Balkans, when it comes to Russian imperialism. Ulf Lässing, KAS representative for the Sahel Region in Bamako (Mali), talked about the impact of Russian paramilitary operations and disinformation campaigns, highlighting their role in destabilizing the region.
The role of the media in the geopolitical conflicts was also a central theme. Journalist and writer Mamadiarra Diop from Dakar (Senegal), provided insights into how Russian propaganda shapes public opinion and policymaking in the Sahel. She underlined the need for independent journalism to confront misinformation and defend democratic values.
The Balkans were another key issue, with experts Solomon Passy and Lyubcho Neshkov from BGNes Agency, analysing Russia's strategic influence in the region. The discussions highlighted political and economic pressure tactics, energy dependencies and the region's security vulnerability in the face of Kremlin's expanding propaganda.
In the following panel focused on election interference and democratic stability Dimitar Vatsov from Human and Social Studies Foundation, Dimitar Mihaylov, and Mamadiarra Diop examined the risks of foreign manipulation in Africa and the Balkans. The conversation highlighted the importance of institutional resilience, transparent electoral processes and a strong media presence to counter foreign influence.
Security cooperation was discussed in a session featuring Daniel Sunter from Balkan Security Network, Zlatko Bars-Dimitroff, former Head of Regional Field Office and Ulf Lässing, who shared lessons from international efforts to maintain peace in the Sahel region and the Balkans. The panel addressed hybrid threats, strengthening multilateral security cooperation and civil society participation in conflict management.
In conclusion Christoph Plate emphasised the need for creative approaches in countering Russian influence: „Somebody said today, you need to respect your adversary. Find a narrative for each and every country. Find a narrative for each and every addressee. Engage the new rulers,“ he said.