In The Kremlin Playbook 2: The Enablers, the CSIS Europe Program and the Center for the Study of Democracy explored whether some of these jurisdictions and companies could be enabling forces that amplify Russian malign economic influence in some countries in Europe. The study analyzed the following case study countries: Austria, Czech Republic, Italy, Montenegro, the Netherlands, and Romania. The report shows that some countries facilitate or enable Russian malign economic influence, and by doing so these enablers actively participate in the weakening and discrediting of their own democratic structures.

The Kremlin Playbook 2 concludes that Russian malign economic influence and illicit finance operate in a financial gray zone that is a clear and present danger to U.S. national security as well as transatlantic security. To push back against this threat, the United States and its European allies must take decisive action to limit Russia's malign behavior in their financial systems. Only transparency and enforcement of our rule of law can guarantee trust in the system and rebuild confidence in democratic institutions.

Heather A. Conley is senior vice president for Europe, Eurasia, and the Arctic

and director of the Europe Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C. Ruslan Stefanov is the director of the Center for the Study of Democracy's (CSD) Economic Program. Donatienne Ruy is a research associate with the CSIS Europe Program. Martin Vladimirov is an analyst at the CSD Economic Program.