Fake 'Wahhabi' Killings Claim Spread in Telegram
From the history of administrator 'Pozdnyakov 3.0' and other moderators and owners of anti-migrant pages 'People of Baikal', much has been learned about how such resources operate.
Consensus
- A false claim about a 'Wahhabi' killing a 15-year-old in Lipetsk was published in October 2024.
- The claim was posted in the Telegram channel 'Pozdnyakov 3.0'.
- The real perpetrator of the murder was a local Russian national, not a migrant or Wahhabi.
- The channel did not correct the false claim and instead claimed the killer was another migrant.
- Vladimir Ivanov, a St. Petersburg resident and former college graduate, was a moderator of the channel.
- Ivanov had worked with various controversial figures and groups, including Prigozhin-linked structures, Tsargrad, and Azat Shabutdinov.
- Ivanov expressed belief that 'most people are stupid and obedient'.
- The investigation was conducted jointly with the project 'Blue Capybaras'.
- The investigation explored how anti-migrant content spreads on Telegram and why it resonates with audiences.
Coverage (3 sources)
- «Most people are stupid and led». Who and why is spreading migrant-phobic content in Telegram — Говорит НеМосква
- «Most people are stupid and led». Who and why is spreading migrant-phobic content in Telegram — SOTAvision
- «Most people are stupid and led». Who and why is spreading migrant-phobic content in Telegram — Люди Байкала