Op 4 december is Miriam Lexmann van het International Republican Institute te gast. Zij zal spreken over het Beacon Project dat Russische desinformatie bestrijdt: “Russian Interference in Europe: The Dilemma Between Addressing Exploitable Societal Vulnerabilities and Scapegoating Russia”.
Miriam Lexmann is the Director of the EU Office of the International Republican Institute (IRI). Miriam was actively involved in various Central and Eastern European civil society movements and projects during the years of the post-communist transition. Ms Lexmann brought her expertise to the international level, when working for the Council of Europe on civil society development programmes. Her primary focus was on the former Soviet Union Countries and the Western Balkans. After Slovakia joined the EU in 2004, Miriam served as the Permanent Representative of the Slovak Parliament to the EU. Miriam regularly publishes articles on topics relating to international democracy support and is the author of several analytical reports mapping the impact of disinformation in Europe.

In 2016 the International Republic Institute launched a new program aimed at countering the increasing threat of Russian soft power and propaganda: the Beacon project. The Beacon Project aims to maximise European partnerships with political parties, think tanks, activists and media organizations to inform European leaders about the Russian Federation’s misinformation campaign across the continent.