Internet Research Agency

"Trolls from Olgino" (Russian: «тролли из Ольгино») or "Olgino's trolls" (Russian: «ольгинские тролли») is a widespread conception. It is used to denote Internet trolls, who work in purposely equipped offices leaving comments to posts on social networks, online newspaper sites etc, intended to spread pro-Russian propagandist messages.

Origin

Conception origins from the location of the office, purposely equipped for trolling, which was exposed by Russian journalists in 2013 in Olgino, historical district of Saint Petersburg. Lately "trolls from Olgino" and "Olgino's trolls" became general concepts defining trolls, who spread pro-Russian propaganda, not only from the office in Olgino.

Organizers

Strategical

Russian newspaper "Vedomosti" links the approved by Russian authorities strategy of public consciousness manipulation through new media to Vyacheslav Volodin, first deputy of the Vladimir Putin Presidential Administration of Russia.

Tactical

According to journalists’ investigations, the office in Olgino was officially named as "Internet researches agency" Ltd. (Russian: ООО «Агентство интернет-исследований»). The company was founded in the summer of 2013.

Journalists also point out that Alexey Soskovets, who previously participated in Russian youth political community, was directly connected to the office in Olgino. His company "North-western service agency" won 17 or 18 (according to different sources) competitions for organizing celebrations, forums and sport competitions for authorities of Saint Petersburg. The agency was the only competitor in half of those competitions. In the summer of 2013 the agency also won a tender for providing freight services for participants of "Seliger" camp.

In 2014, according to Russian media information, a company "Internet researches" Ltd. (Russian: ООО «Интернет исследования»), founded in March 2014, joined the agency's activity. Journalists of "Novaya Gazeta" newspaper claim this company to be a successor of "Internet researches agency" Ltd. "Internet researches" Ltd. is considered to be linked to Yevgeniy Prigozhin, head of "Concord" holding. "Trolls of Olgino" from Saint Petersburg are considered to be his project. As for October 2014, the company now belongs to Mikhail Bystrov, who formerly was the head of the police station at Moscow district of Saint Petersburg.

Russian media point out that according to documents, published by hackers from "Anonymous international", "Concord" is directly involved with trolling administration through the agency. Particularly, researchers cite e-mail correspondence, in which "Concord" gives instructions to trolls and receives reports on accomplished work back. According to journalists' information, this holding organized banquets in Kremlin and also cooperated with "Voentorg" and Russian Ministry of Defence.

Despite links to Alexei Soskovets, Nadejda Orlova, deputy of the head of the committee for youth policy in Saint Petersburg, disclaimed connection between her institution and trolling offices.

Offices

In Saint Petersburg

In Olgino

As reported by "Novaya gazeta" newspaper, in the end of August 2013, the following message appeared in social networks:

"Internet operators wanted! Job at chic office in Olgino!!! (st. Staraya Derevnia), salary 25960 per month. Task: posting comments at profile sites in the Internet, writing thematic posts, blogs, social networks. Reports via screenshots. Individual schedule <...> Payment every week, 1180 per shift (from 8.00 to 16.00, from 10.30 to 18.30, from 14.00 to 22.00). PAYMENTS EVERY WEEK AND FREE MEALS!!! Official job placement or according to contract (at will). Tuition possible."

As reported by media and former employees, the office in Olgino had already existed and has been functioning since September of 2013. It was situated in a white cottage, 15 minutes by an underground railway from "Staraya Derevnia" station, opposite "Olgino" railway station. Workplaces for troll-employees were placed in basement rooms.

In Savushkina street

According to Russian online newspaper DP.Ru, several months before October 2014 the office moved from Olgino to four stories high house at 55 Savushkina Street. As reported by journalists, the building is officially an object of uncompleted construction and stays as such as for March 2015.

In other cities

"Novaya gazeta" newspaper informed that, according to Alexei Soskovets, head of the office in Olgino, “North-Western service agency” was hiring employees for job in similar projects in Moscow and other cities in 2013.

Work organization

The highest level

Russian online newspaper “Fontanka.ru” analyzed documents, published by hackers in May 2014. According to journalists, it appears that under the same leadership the specific plan or scheme was designed for Internet agencies with hundreds of paid bloggers and commenters as well as several media in Russia and Ukraine in addition with some low key (“pocket”) social organizations. Month budget of such scheme comprises of 33.5 million Russian rubles, 17 million of which are in cash.

Low level

According to the data of "Moy raion" newspaper, during existence of the office in Olgino approximately 300 troll-employees were working in it. Journalists-investigators found out that at that time their daily norm was 100 comments.

!!!

In May 2014, Russian online newspaper "Fontanka.ru" described schemas for plundering the budget, intended for trolling organization.

Trolling thematics

According to the testimonies of the journalists-investigators and former employees of the offices, main thematics for posts and comments were:

• criticism of Alexei Navalniy, hissponsors, and Russian opposition in general;
• criticism of Ukraine’s and the United States’ foreign policies, and the top politicians of these states;
• praise of policy of the Russian Federation and Vladimir Putin.

Journalists point out that thematic of trolling coincides with thematic of Russian propaganda, and emerging of their main messages also coincide in time and matter. Technical tasks for trolls are taken mainly from Russia Today channel content.

Organized anti-Ukrainian campaign

According to the American Internet news media BuzzFeed, in the beggining of April 2014 began an organized campaign for the formation of necessary for Russian authorities public opinion in the Western countries regarding Russian armed aggression against Ukraine in 2014. Such conclusions journalists are making based on the facts which appeared in their possession. The media further informs, that the documents contain instructions for commenters at Fox News, Huffington Post, The Blaze, Politico, and WorldNetDaily sites. The requirement for the working hours for the trolls is also mentioned - 50 comments under news articles per day.

Each blogger has to manage 6 accounts on Facebook, post at least 3 posts every day, and also participate twice in the group discussions. Other employees have to manage 10 accounts on Twitter, publishing 50 tweets every day. Basing on analysis of the documents, journalists make a conclusion that Igor Osadchiy is a probable leader of the project, and the campaign itself is performed by "Internet researches agency" Ltd. Osadchiy denies his connection to the agency.

Reactions

In the end of May of 2014 a hacker group from "Anonymous international" began publishing an array of documents, received from hacked emails of "Internet researches agency" managers. In May-June of 2014, newspapers The Washington Post and The Guardian informed on invasion of Internet-trolls, who massively posted pro-Russian messages in broken English in comments at news media sites. The Guardian even faced issues on comments moderation for that cause. In March 2015 a service allowing to block sources of anti-Ukrainian propaganda in social networks was launched.

Assessments

According to the opinions of the Russian bloggers Anton Nosik, Rustem Adagamov, and Dmitriy Aleshkovskiy, paid Internet-trolls don't change public opinion. Their usage is just a way to steal budget money.

Adjacent activity of organizers

Russian media, basing on the documents, published by hackers of "Anonymous international", point "Concord" holding to be linked to the funding of several media in Ukraine and Russia, particularly: "Kharkiv news agency", "News of Neva", "Newspaper about newspapers", "Business dialog", "Journalist truth".

See also

• Information security
• Primorsky District, Saint Petersburg
• Vatnik (slang)

Sources

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