Memory and Mythmaking: Russian Sharp Power in Bulgaria

• In Event: Public Opinion and International Security: Identity, Media, and Influence in Central Asia and Eastern Europe

Abstract

This paper examines the Night Wolves Motorcycle Club (NWMC) as a tool of Russian sharp power in Bulgaria, focusing on their annual "Victory Roads" rides commemorating World War II. By leveraging the myth of the Great Patriotic War, pro-Russian forces promote a narrative of Russia as Bulgaria's historical liberator and contemporary ally. Key propaganda points include: Portraying Russia as Bulgaria's "big brother" and twice-liberator (from Ottoman rule and fascism);

Author

• Dessie Zagorcheva, CUNY