Propaganda has become a favorite tool for keeping dictators in power. The most famous example of this is the Nazi propaganda of Goebbels. In modern times, propaganda is everywhere, in any country in the world. In democratic countries, there are different versions of propaganda, due to which there is an adjustment and building a more or less objective view. There is no such thing in authoritarian countries, one version of propaganda (of the ruling elite) dominates there. Its consequences are catastrophic not only for the country itself, but also for the world.
The current war between Russia and Ukraine is a good example of this. Putin and his propaganda convinced most Russians of the hostile intentions of Ukraine and the Nazi authorities there. If NATO intervenes in this conflict, then Putin will convince the population of the true hostility of NATO and, with the approval of the population, start the Third World War. If there was truth, the Russians would understand the falsity and stupidity of Russian accusations against Ukraine and would force the authorities to stop the war. What can the world do to stop propaganda in authoritarian countries?
1. Sponsoring local liberal media with their possible relocation to safe countries (if funding is requested)
2. Strengthening cultural contacts with ordinary Russians
3. Strengthening scientific contacts
4. Set up an international digital literacy day to help fight with fakes, use the Internet and so on.
5. Opening foreign Internet for local users (e.g., make a localized version of own media)
6. Helping political terrorists inside the country (very risky, immoral but I think helpful)
Now it seems that the West is also paranoid because some "sanctions" only worsen the situation and the already fragile attitude of Russians towards the West. Isolating Russia will allow Putin to do whatever he wants with Russian citizens and I believe that the West should not allow this. To do that the West should open information flaws with ordinary Russians (everything else needs to stop). In addition, the West should develop its own strategy to combat propaganda in authoritarian countries (Russia, some CIS countries, North Korea, China, etc.) and carefully implement it.
I am ashamed to ask Western countries for help, but now we risk not living to see the moment when the Russian population realizes that they have been deceived all this time (or the Russian elites will have the courage to eliminate Putin).
You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot foot all of the people all the time. Avraham Lincoln