Michaela Ružičková

Michaela Ružičková is a PhD candidate at Department of Political Science at Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Slovakia. Her research is devoted to environmental factors in geopolitics. During her studies, she gained experience as an intern at the Foreign Policy Department in the Office of the President of Slovak Republic. Currently she is working for an independent think-tank Strategic Policy Institute, for which she publishes analyzes in the field of conflict areas. She also works as a content editor for the Digital Infospace Security Initiative newsletter on disinformation. Other areas of her interest include cognitive security, information security and hybrid threats.

Slovak “peace marches” stirred up pro-Russian sentiment in society

Michaela Ružičková

10.05.23

Marches calling for peace in Ukraine were held in Slovakia during February and early March 2023. Paradoxically, the peace marches served the Kremlin's...

WIll 2023 bring hope to the EU enlargement perspective of the Western Balkans?

Visar Xhambazi

26.12.22

One major issue pertaining to the EU enlargement policy remains Kosovo. EU candidate status for Bosnia and Herzegovina leaves Kosovo as the last remaining country in the region to not have a clear path toward the...

The fall of Slovak pro-Kremlin disinformation media

Michaela Ružičková

02.09.22

The blocking of Slovak disinformation websites by the National Security Authority was an unprecedented step against pro-Russian websites spreading disinformation, conspiracies, propaganda, and toxic narratives. Unfortunately, it was also criticized for alleged...

The “freedom fighters“ that threaten Slovak democracy

Michaela Ružičková

29.09.21

Michaela Ružičková Despite the relatively good pandemic situation in Slovakia during the summer of 2021, the state faced an extensive anti-vaccination and anti-government campaign. It was aimed primarily against vaccination, pandemic measures and restrictions. The...

Lessons from the nation that tested its entire population

Michaela Ružičková

21.12.20

Michaela Ružičková We should not consider it as a failure, but it has to be said that it resulted only in temporary decline of spreading the virus. On the other hand, spreading disinformation had more significant consequences. The end of October brought an...