Annual Riga Conference
A delegation of servicemen from the 12th Special Purpose Brigade “Azov” of the National Guard of Ukraine — including Yuliia Fedosiuk, Head of the International Department of Azov, Sergeant Valentyn Dziubenko and Junior Sergeant Volodymyr Vernyhora took part in the annual Riga Conference.
Riga, 2024
The event brings together politicians, diplomats, leading experts in foreign policy and defense, academics, journalists, and business representatives to discuss issues relevant to the transatlantic community.
The conference was organized by the Latvian Transatlantic Organization (LATO), the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia.
Yuliia Fedosiuk and Valentyn Dziubenko spoke at the panel discussion “Lessons for the West in Countering Hostile Information Operations”, moderated by Brian Whitmore, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council.
Representatives of the brigade shared insights into the methods russians have used over the past ten years in information attacks against the unit, and for the first time publicly presented Azov’s successful experience in countering russian propaganda on the international stage, along with several of their counter-propaganda projects.
Taking the opportunity, the speakers also reminded conference participants about nearly 900 Azov fighters who have been held in russian prisons for over two and a half years and called on those present to raise the issue of Azov fighters’ exchanges in decision-making circles, in private discussions and in the media.
During the conference, the Azov delegation also spoke with retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, former Commanding General of the U.S. Army Europe, who moderated one of the panel discussions.
Representatives of the Azov Brigade also visited the Latvian National Defence Academy, where they shared Azov’s unique experience in countering russian disinformation and answered questions from Latvian servicemen.
In addition, Azov fighters held a working meeting at the headquarters of the 1st Riga Brigade of the Latvian National Guard (Zemessardze) with Brigade Commander Colonel Normunds Baranovs and his team.