‘Russian propaganda promoters list’: NSAB Chairman on Ukraine list, he says claim preposterous

Three Indians, including National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) Chairman P S Raghavan, have figured on a list of individuals prepared by a Ukrainian government agency for, what it says, “promoting Russian propaganda”.

Besides Raghavan — who retired as India’s ambassador to Russia in 2016, others on the list are former National Knowledge Commission Chairman Sam Pitroda and journalist Saeed Naqvi.

Published on July 14, Ukraine’s “Center for Countering Disinformation”, the list of more than 70 politicians, academicians and activists who are “promoting Russian propaganda” include US Republican Senator Rand Paul, former Democrat Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, French right-wing politician Marine Le Pen, American academic and political scientist Prof John Mearsheimer and journalist Glenn Greenwald among others.

British website, UnHerd, first reported the list earlier this week. It said the centre, which was established in 2021 under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and headed by former lawyer Polina Lysenko, sits within the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine. Its stated aim is to detect and counter “propaganda” and “destructive disinformation” and to prevent the “manipulation of public opinion”.

While there is no official word from Ministry of External Affairs, sources said they would look into the issue but did not attach too much importance to the list.

When contacted, Raghavan — who was re-appointed as the NSAB Chairman about a month ago — told,“On the Ukraine list, I do not wish to comment on its origin or significance, except to say that it is preposterous to describe me as a propagandist for Russia (or any other country).”