Russian Political Image in Spanish Media during the Revitalisation of Information Wars (Considering the Crimean Events of 2014 and the Ukrainian Events of 2022)

Abstract

The article, through the use of the method of quantitative and qualitative content analysis of media materials, as well as a sociological survey of the population of Spain, examines the phenomenon of «negatization» of the international political image of the Russian Federation against the backdrop of the Crimean and Ukrainian events in the context of increasing geopolitical confrontation, information wars, and also evaluates the role of the Spanish media in constructing the image of the state. The author concludes that the content of the Spanish discourse regarding the assessment of Russia and its role in international affairs from 2014 to 2022 has significantly transformed, and that the Spanish media use the patterns set by the USA, which is expressed in the portrayal of Russia as an aggressor, posing a serious threat to international security and stability. At the same time, there is a need to increase the effectiveness of the domestic media in the process of adjusting the image of Russia and minimizing its negative characteristics.