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9,900 | 15.05.2019 | 10 years of existence, the Eastern Partnership is a suitcase without a handle: cannot be cancelled and cannot be used | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/eastern-partnership-for-the-decade-came-in-the-state-of-a-suitcase-without-a-handle-cannot-be-cancelled-and-cannot-be-used | ru.armeniasputnik.am | Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine | Outlet language(s)
Russian | Neither the EU nor its “Eastern partners” could offer each other any constructive prospects for cooperation during the Eastern Partnership summit in Brussels. The Eastern Partnership has exhausted its potential, the level of representation is down, no joint declarations were signed. Deeper integration with the EU is impossible now for partner countries, because of deep contradictions within the EU. For the EaP countries, the Eastern Partnership should be a transitional stage to full membership. Otherwise, what did all the sacrifices already made/still to be made bring? | This message is an example of one of several pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives around the West, EU, and Eastern Partnership Programme. These narratives try to prove the uselessness of the Eastern Partnership programme, absence of real results, lack of perspectives for cooperation and mislead about its goals. There is no evidence given to support these claims. The EaP is a joint policy initiative which aims to deepen and strengthen relations between the European Union, its member states and six Eastern neighbours: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The EaP is a regional cooperation mechanism developed under the European neighbourhood policy. Read more here. | Euro-scepticism, Eastern Partnership, European Union, Europe |
9,901 | 15.05.2019 | Mueller report presents no traces of Russian interference in US elections | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/mueller-report-presents-no-traces-of-russian-interference-in-us-elections | Sputnik Germany | US, Russia | Outlet language(s)
German | Mueller report presents no traces of Russian interference in US elections. Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller had spent almost two years investigating whether Trump’s 2016 election campaign team had colluded with Russia and whether this had led to obstructions of justice. At the end of March, he presented his final report, according to which no conclusive evidence of a crime could be found. | Recurring narrative on Russian interference in 2016 US elections. Although Robert Mueller's investigation was concluded with no proof of Russian collusion with the Trump campaign, it did conclude that Russia interfered in the 2016 election. Mueller's report determined that there were "two main Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election". It led to US senators' proposals to extend sanctions on Russia to deter it from further election meddling. The claim that the report provides no evidence of Trump-Russia collusion is spurious. Gathering evidence of "collusion" - which is not a legal concept - fell outside the scope of the investigation. The aim of the probe was not merely to ascertain contacts between the Trump Campaign and Russia-linked individuals during the election period, but to establish whether these interactions were deliberate enough on the part of Trump Campaign officials to sustain charges of conspiracy (p. 2). In fact, the report explicitly identifies "numerous links between individuals with ties to the Russian government and individuals associated with the Trump Campaign" (p. 9). A number of these individuals later "made false statements about those contacts and took other steps to obstruct" the probe (p. 180). See further debunking by The Insider. | election meddling, Robert Mueller, Manipulated elections/referendum, Donald Trump |
9,902 | 14.05.2019 | Western Europe is a subordinate to the Anglo-Saxon world, which is dominated by the US. | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/western-europe-is-subordinate-to-anglo-saxon-world-headed-by-the-us | sputnik.by | Germany, US | Outlet language(s)
Russian | The world consists of a number of competing civilisations. Western Europe is a Germanic-Roman civilisation which is, at present, subordinate to the Anglo-Saxon one. The latter is dominated by the US. Germany is fed up with this situation and lately has been attempting, unsuccessfully, to break free from the Anglo-Saxon chains. | This message is a conspiracy consistent with one of the most common pro-Kremlin narratives alleging that certain countries are no longer truly sovereign. Germany and the US have close partner relations as two sovereign and independent countries. See also earlier disinformation cases alleging that Germany is a vassal of the US, Germany is the executor of US hegemony over Europe; The USA is controlling Europe through occupied Germany; Germany will have to choose between defending Europe's interest and catering to Washington. Read also about the concept of big conspiracy used by the pro-Kremlin media. | West, Anglo-Saxon, Europe, Conspiracy theory |
9,903 | 14.05.2019 | Belarus and other peoples of Northern Eurasia are part of the Russian World | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/belarus-and-other-peoples-of-northern-eurasia-are-part-of-russian-world | sputnik.by | Belarus, Russia | Outlet language(s)
Russian | The Roman empire died because of internal decay, when material benefits were placed at the top of empire’s development agenda. Similarly, the Union State between Russia and Belarus cannot exist with a sole purpose of raising the well-being of its citizens. It needs the unifying idea, and that is that Russia and Belarus are part of Russian civilization, the Russian World, which has fairness as one of its underlying principles. The Russian World is intended to gather other peoples of Northern Eurasia around the eastern Slavic core. Northern Eurasia peoples are those who were involved in building the Russian empire and the USSR. | The Russian World ('Russkiy Mir') concept is closely linked with an an imperial Russian and Russian irredentist ideology of "all-Russian nation", a recurring pro-Kremlin narrative aimed at weakening the national identity of Belarusians and Ukrainians as well as their sovereignty.Earlier cases alleging that Belarusians are part of Russian people can be found here and here, whereas other examples of pro-Kremlin disinformation outlets' attempts to question the Ukrainian nation can be seen here and here. | Russian expansionism, Russian world |
9,904 | 14.05.2019 | The Eastern Partnership Programme is a concealed form of colonisation | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/the-eastern-partnership-programme-is-a-concealed-form-of-colonisation | ukraina.ru | Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova, Georgia, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia | Outlet language(s)
Russian | Member States [of the Eastern Partnership Programme] had to adopt European standards, to subordinate to the European foreign policy in order to break up the political and economic interconnection of the CIS [Commonwealth of Independent States] countries. The programme did not assume equal relations between Ukraine, Moldova and the EU, but was rather a veiled form of colonisation.[…] | Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative on Western aggression and the Eastern Partnership Programme The Eastern Partnership (EaP) is a joint policy initiative which aims to deepen and strengthen relations between the European Union (EU), its Member States and its six Eastern neighbours: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. Read more about the Eastern Partnership and its priorities here. The Eastern Partnership initiative is not against any country; it is a mutually beneficial and constructive platform for countries in the region to build a closer relationship with the EU, if they so choose. The EU does not demand that any of its partners need to make a choice between the EU or any other countries. It stands for good neighbourly relations. The Eastern Partnership respects the individual aspirations and ambition of each partner country. Also read more on the most repeated myths about the Eastern Partnership initiative here. | Ukraine, Eastern Partnership, Europe |
9,905 | 14.05.2019 | The Eastern Partnership Programme provoked the war in Donbas | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/the-eastern-partnership-programme-provoked-the-war-in-donbas | ukraina.ru | Ukraine | Outlet language(s)
Russian | The Eastern Partnership programme is the reason why the military conflict in Donbas has lasted for five years. | Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative accusing the West, and in this case the EU, of encircling Russia and initiating a war in Ukraine.The Eastern Partnership programme is not directed against any country, including Russia. It is a joint policy initiative which aims to deepen and strengthen relations between the European Union, its member states and six Eastern neighbours: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.Furthermore, there is irrefutable evidence of direct Russian military involvement in eastern Ukraine.The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court recognised that “the information available suggests that the situation within the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol amounts to an international armed conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation". The international armed conflict began at the latest on 26 February 2014 when the Russian Federation deployed members of its armed forces to gain control over parts of the Ukrainian territory without the consent of the Ukrainian Government. | Ukraine, Eastern Ukraine, Eastern Partnership, War in Ukraine |
9,906 | 14.05.2019 | The Eastern Partnership Programme is a destructive anti-Russian project | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/eastern-partnership-is-a-destructive-anti-russian-project | ukraina.ru | Russia | Outlet language(s)
Russian | The Eastern Partnership Programme, which at the beginning was created to solve the issues of interaction of the post-Soviet countries with the EU, has turned into a destructive anti-Russian project. | Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative accusing the West, and in this case the EU, of encircling Russia.The Eastern Partnership (EaP) is a joint policy initiative which aims to deepen and strengthen relations between the European Union (EU), its Member States and its six Eastern neighbours: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. Read more about the Eastern Partnership and its priorities here.The Eastern Partnership initiative is not against any country; it is a mutually beneficial and constructive platform for countries in the region to build a closer relationship with the EU, if they so choose. The EU does not demand that any of its partners make a choice between the EU or any other countries. It stands for good neighbourly relations. The Eastern Partnership respects the individual aspirations and ambitions of each partner country.Read more on the most repeated myths about the Eastern Partnership initiative here. | Ukraine, Eastern Partnership, Diplomacy with Russia, Anti-Russian, Encircling Russia |
9,907 | 14.05.2019 | US plans to use nuclear weapon in Europe | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/us-plans-to-use-nuclear-weapon-in-europe | sputnik-abkhazia.ru | US | Outlet language(s)
Russian | By placing nuclear weapons in Europe, the US is preparing to use them. | No evidence given. Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the US and nuclear weapons. For information about NATO's (of which the US is a member) commitment to arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation, see here.RIA Novosti edited the headline of this story after publication and deleted the part about US allegedly using nuclear weapons "in Europe". The original version of the article can be found here. | Nuclear issues, Europe |
9,908 | 14.05.2019 | EU's political aim behind the Eastern Partnership Programme is to isolate Russia | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/eus-political-aim-behind-the-eastern-partnerhsip-is-to-isolate-russia | Rubaltic.ru | Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova, Georgia, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia | Outlet language(s)
Russian | The essence of the EU’s Eastern Partnership programme is to make its non-EU member states follow Brussels’ instructions on domestic policies and to go further away from Russia in their external relations. Closer economic cooperation with the EU for non-EU countries is only possible in exchange for political concessions. The reason behind the EU’s invitations to the Belarusian president, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, to the EaP summits were to have his signature on a joint anti-Russian declaration. Politically, the EU’s aim behind the Eastern Partnership is to isolate Moscow. Therefore, Belarus’ position to develop ties with both the EU and Russia is irrelevant for the EU. | This message is consistent with pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about the West's, and in this case, the EU's intention to encircle Russia and the former’s attempts to bring discord in Belarusian-Russian relations. The Eastern Partnership programme aims to reinforce the political association and economic integration of six Eastern European and South Caucasus partner countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. It is not directed against any country, including Russia. Read more about the EaP's recent and ongoing activities. | Eastern Partnership, Anti-Russian, European Union, Conspiracy theory |
9,909 | 14.05.2019 | Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia are held by the EU in the ”waiting room” | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/moldova-ukraine-and-georgia-are-held-by-the-eu-in-the-waiting-room | ru.sputnik.md | Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine | Outlet language(s)
Russian | Ten years ago, it was proposed to create a neighbourhood platform with the former Soviet Republics, particularly with Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia. The idea was to attract these post-Soviet states to the EU with empty promises, based on the ideology. The EU has no money for enlargement, nor there is any political will. | Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative on the EU and Eastern Partnership Programme. This message attempts to induce the idea that Eastern Partnership is a failed initiative, without any arguments. The Eastern Partnership is a joint policy initiative which aims to deepen and strengthen relations between the European Union, its member states and its six Eastern neighbours: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Over the past decade, the collective efforts of the EU and the partner countries have brought considerable benefits to the citizens in spite of what widespread myths state. Similar case can be found here. | Eastern Partnership, European Union |
9,910 | 14.05.2019 | Russian Federation did not attempt to influence the US presidential in 2016 | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/russian-federation-did-not-attempt-to-influence-the-us-presidential-in-2016 | it.sputniknews.com | US, Russia | Outlet language(s)
Italian | The accusations against the Russian Federation of attempting to influence the presidential elections in the United States are false. | Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about "Russiagate". Before the Mueller report was published, Russian meddling in the 2016 election had already been established by US intelligence agencies. Robert Mueller’s report maintains that “the investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities”. Nevertheless, it states that Russian interference activities DID take place. As concluded earlier by the US intelligence community and by Mueller’s own inquiry “the investigation established that the Russian government perceived it would benefit from a Trump presidency and worked to secure that outcome, and that the Campaign expected it would benefit electorally from information stolen and released through Russian efforts”. For further information, please see here. For other cases about Russian interference in the US elections 2016, please see here: | election meddling, Robert Mueller, Democracy, Manipulated elections/referendum, Donald Trump, Elections |
9,911 | 14.05.2019 | Eastern Partnership is an aggressive Russophobic project directed against Russia | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/eastern-partnership-is-an-aggressive-russophobic-project-directed-against-russia | ukraina.ru | Ukraine | Outlet language(s)
Russian | The Eastern Partnership project, which involves cooperation with six states: Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova, celebrated its tenth anniversary. This is a Russophobic organisation that was created for provocations against Russia.Europe is trying to get an opportunity to exploit the industrial and economic base of the post-Soviet states under the guise of building mutually beneficial and good-neighbourly relations. Thus, the Europeans actually turn these states into their colonies.Also, the Eastern Partnership is an aggressive project that led to civil war in the Donbas. | Recurring disinformation narrative about the Eastern Partnership being an anti-Russian initiative and how the EU is ruining Ukraine.The essence of the Eastern Partnership is the financial assistance of the EU to those countries that have expressed a desire to carry out economic and political reforms. The consequence of reforms in these states is the signing of the Association Agreement with the EU, the creation of a free trade zone, the liberalisation of the visa regime with the EU and the development of the energy sector. The principle of the Eastern Partnership is that each state independently determines for itself the depth of cooperation with the EU. Also in the European Union, it has been repeatedly stated that the Eastern Partnership is not a geopolitical project, but a democratic, economic, educational platform for the participating countries. There is no talk about the development of "Russophobia" in the partner countries.Countries that have joined the Eastern Partnership can trade with other countries, including Russia. Armenia and Belarus continue to successfully trade with Russia and even belong to the Russian Eurasian Economic Union.The concept of "civil war" in Ukraine is a classic narrative of Russian propaganda, and the Eastern Partnership has nothing to do with the invasion by Russian troops into Ukraine. Ukraine has repeatedly provided evidence of Russia's participation in the war in the east of the country. | Eastern Partnership, European Union, Russophobia |
9,912 | 14.05.2019 | Leaked OPCW report proves Douma chemical attack was staged | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/leaked-opcw-report-proves-douma-chemical-attack-was-staged | sputniknews.com | Syria | Outlet language(s)
English | A leaked, never-before-seen report by the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) proves that the April 2018 chemical attack in Douma, Syria was staged. The leaked document, prepared by an FFM engineer, finds that the two cylinders allegedly containing chlorine and found on a Douma rooftop could not have been dropped from a helicopter. This fact precludes the involvement of Syrian government forces in the attack. The organization which first obtained the unreleased report — the Working Group on Syria, Propaganda and Media — concludes that the two chlorine cylinders were instead placed on said rooftop. This means that the attack was indeed staged, possibly by the White Helmets who have been repeatedly busted faking videos of their rescue operations. | Recurring disinformation narratives deflecting blame for chemical attacks from the Assad regime; painting the White Helmets as terrorists; and aiming to discredit the OPCW. The "never-before-seen-report" appears to be an engineering assessment carried out by one individual who, contrary to Sputnik's false claim, was never a member of the Fact-Finding Mission and is not currently employed by the organization. The individual, however, was affiliated with the OPCW as an engineer and apparently have access to materials gathered in the course of the Douma FFM, and based his/her conclusions on the same evidence pool. An OPCW press statement confirms that "all information was taken into account, deliberated, and weighed when formulating the final report regarding the incident in Douma." The OPCW Technical Secretariat is conducting an internal investigation about the unauthorised release of the document in question. Regardless of the leaked document's authenticity, its conclusion that the cylinders could not have been dropped from helicopters: a) has been addressed in the actual OPCW report on Douma (Annex 6, pp. 55-56); b) does not support the outlandish claim that the incident was staged "and designed to frame the Syrian government." The White Helmets have not once been "busted" staging anything, see our debunking on the subject for more details. | false flag, Douma, OPCW, White Helmets, Propaganda, Chemical weapons/attack, Syrian War |
9,913 | 14.05.2019 | The US are planning to use nuclear weapons in Europe | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/the-us-are-planning-to-use-the-nuclear-weapons-in-europe | pl.sputniknews.com | US | Outlet language(s)
Polish | The United States are planning to use nuclear weapons in Europe.Some of the European countries, dependent on Washington, pretend that nothing is happening, or they are simply afraid to consider the possibility of the preparations for the use of nuclear weapons in the 21st century. | No evidence given. Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative on the US nuclear ambitions. For information about NATO's (of which the US is member) commitment to arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation, see here. Unlike RIA Novosti, which edited the headline of this story after publication and deleted the part about US allegedly using nuclear weapons "in Europe", Sputnik Polska has not updated or deleted any content from this article since its initial publication on 14-May-2019. | Nuclear issues, Europe |
9,914 | 14.05.2019 | The Eastern Partnership programme led to the disintegration of post-Soviet space | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/the-eastern-partnership-led-to-the-disintegration-of-post-soviet-states | pl.sputniknews.com | Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova, Georgia, Belarus, Ukraine | Outlet language(s)
Polish | The Eastern Partnership programme played rather a destructive role in European politics in the sense that this caused the disintegration of the post-Soviet space. | No evidence given. A recurring narrative criticising the Eastern Partnership - see other cases here and here. The Eastern Partnership (EaP) is a joint initiative involving the EU, its Member States and six Eastern European Partners: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. It is not against any country; it is a mutually beneficial and constructive platform for countries in the region to build a closer relationship with the EU, if they choose to do so. Besides governments, the Eastern Partnership also involves broader society:the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum ensures that the views of the civil society are taken into account;the Conference of Local & Regional Authorities for the Eastern Partnership (CORLEAP) brings in the levels of governance that are the closest to the people;the EURONEST Parliamentary Assembly provides a platform for parliamentary oversight of the Eastern Partnership;in addition, there are high-level events with youth, business and media representatives every second year in the run-up to the Eastern Partnership Summit. | Eastern Partnership, EU disintegration, Europe |
9,915 | 14.05.2019 | The Eastern Partnership caused the coup d’état in Ukraine and Ukraine’s disintegration | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/the-eastern-partnership-caused-coup-detat-in-ukraine-and-ukraines-disintegration | pl.sputniknews.com | Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova, Georgia, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia | Outlet language(s)
Polish | The current Summit of the Eastern Partnership demonstrates that the initiative is in a serious impasse. The Eastern Partnership programme has become an instrument of Western politics which led to the coup d’état in Ukraine and its disintegration. | A recurring, unfounded narrative criticising the Eastern Partnership initiative, alleging a coup d’état in Ukraine and Ukrainian disintegration.There is no connection between the Eastern Partnership and the military conflict in Eastern Ukraine.The Eastern Partnership (EaP) is a joint initiative involving the EU, its Member States and six Eastern European Partners: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.There was no coup d’état in Ukraine in 2014. The Euromaidan protests were a spontaneous reaction among large parts of the Ukrainian population, ignited by the decision of former President Yanukovych not to sign the Association Agreement with the European Union in November 2013. The Maidan movement resonated with widespread discontent with corruption and mismanagement under Yanukovych’s rule.In April 2014, the head of the National Security Council of Ukraine, Oleksandr Turchinov, announced the launch of the Anti-Terrorist Operation in Eastern Ukraine. This was a reaction to attempts by illegal Russian armed groups controlled by Russia to seize administrative buildings and security forces in the Donbas. The fighting began the next day of the same year. Later, the anti-terrorist operation was reformatted into the United Force Operation.In addition, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in April 2018 at the official level found Russia guilty of occupying Donbas. The Assembly’s report introduced the concept of "temporarily occupied territories (of Ukraine) in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, controlled by the Russian occupation administration". | euro, Eastern Partnership, Ukrainian disintegration, Europe, Euromaidan, Coup |
9,916 | 14.05.2019 | 73% of Ukrainians are against the new language law | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/73-of-ukrainians-are-against-the-new-language-law | 60 minut @Rossiya 1 - YouTube,60 minut @Rossiya 1 - YouTube | Ukraine, Russia | Outlet language(s)
Russian | In Ukraine, the Russian language has been officially and finally banned. The Ukrainian MPs ‘spat’ in the direction of all those Ukrainians, those 73%, that voted against Poroshenko and these hellish cannibalistic laws. 73% of Ukrainians voted against Poroshenko and this language law. | Misleading statistics; confusing the election results with a claim that 73% of the Ukrainians being against the recently adopted law "On ensuring the functioning of the Ukrainian language as a state language". According to a poll in 2018, more than half of Ukrainians (61%) believe that the Ukrainian language should be the only state language, while the Russian language should be freely used in all spheres of life. Opinion polls conducted by KMIS, Sociological Group Rating, and GfK Ukraine in 2016-2017 demonstrate that the status of the Russian language is important to just one percent of respondents. KMIS research in May 2017 shows that the share does not exceed 3% even in eastern regions. Claims that the Russian language is officially banned in Ukraine are not true. It is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the Ukrainian language law and discrimination against Russian speakers. Background information On the 25th of April Ukrainian parliament passed the law "On ensuring the functioning of the Ukrainian language as a state language", which establishes mandatory use of Ukrainian in most areas of public and communal life. The new Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyi said he will do a thorough analysis of the new language law. Some Western observers commented on the language law and mentioned its comprehensive nature and possible negative consequences. On May 21 the UN Security Council declined to review Ukrainian language law at Russia’s request. | Ukraine, legislation, Russian language |
9,917 | 13.05.2019 | Further evidence of discrimination against residents of Donbas in Ukraine | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/the-state-duma-found-more-evidence-of-discrimination-against-residents-of-donbas-in-ukraine | russian.rt.com | Ukraine, Russia | Outlet language(s)
Russian | Kyiv may deprive citizens who receive Russian passports of their social payments and pensions. Such measures are further proof of discrimination against the residents of Donbas in Ukraine. | The recurring narrative of Kremlin propaganda saying that Ukraine discriminates against residents of the Donbas. For example, cut off water supplies to Luhansk, or prevented Donbas residents from voting in presidential elections. Since 2014, the Ukrainian government has required citizens in Donetsk and Luhansk, which are not controlled by Kyiv, to register as internally displaced persons in government-controlled areas of Ukraine in order to receive their pensions and other entitlements. The Ukrainian Minister of Veterans Affairs, Iryna Friz, said that "It also initiated working on the proposal for including citizens who received passports of the Russian Federation in a manner that violates international law and threatens the sovereignty of our state to a database with the further deprivation of their beneficiary status for receiving social benefits or pensions from Ukraine". Similar disinformation cases can be found here. | Donbas, DPR |
9,918 | 13.05.2019 | UK is against Azerbaijan | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/uk-is-against-azerbaijan | az.trend.az | Azerbaijan, UK | Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation:
Azerbaijan, UK | Several agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom, that have nothing to do with sport, produce biased and unreal considerations and try to formulate opinions of the international community that it is inexpedient to hold important sporting events in Azerbaijan. There are no allegations of theft nor fraud, and there is no problem with ethical conduct. I think that in this issue we have to go down to political roots. Anti-Azerbaijani forces are clearly visible here. In the period of important international events in Azerbaijan, or during such events, these forces are launching a black campaign against Azerbaijan. If we pay attention, we can see that such campaigns are biased and have no basis. | This report comes after Arsenal and Chelsea fans were apparently warned they could be a target for terror attacks in Azerbaijan. The Premier League sides will compete in the Europa League final in the capital city of Baku on May 29. But British media reports wrote about a ‘likely’ attack. This has been taken out of context, as the UK government responded, explaining this advice is not new: "We did not issue a new warning on the threat from terrorism in Azerbaijan. We issued an update to our Azerbaijan travel advice on 1 May to remove advice on travelling through Istanbul. It noted that there are consultative pages on every country for British people travelling abroad: “Each travel advice country page has a dedicated section with information on our assessment of the threat from terrorism in that country. This is to ensure we fulfil our duty of care to British nationals and is under constant review. Our assessment of the threat from terrorism in Azerbaijan has not changed.” "The British Embassy is surprised that travel recommendations published in the Azerbaijani media referring to the UK Foreign Ministry are constantly posted on the Ministry"s website. The citations referenced by the media have existed for several years. Travel recommendations are not subject to discussion. This is a carefully drafted document by the UK government to fulfil the obligation of care for citizens of the country. Recommendations were updated on May 1st. However, this update was only technical and logical in nature, and reflected some facts. In particular, the update was associated with the introduction of a new airport in Istanbul." | null |
9,919 | 13.05.2019 | George Soros controls Ukrainian leader | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/george-soros-controls-ukrainian-leader | RT English | US, Ukraine | Outlet language(s)
English | Ukrainian President-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy and numerous members of his team are stooges of George Soros and the Liberals. | The story advances the recurring pro-Kremlin narrative painting Ukraine as a geopolitical hostage of the United States, and the anti-Semitic conspiracy theory portraying philanthropist George Soros as a menace bent on weakening Russia and meddling in its "sphere of influence." No sources are presented for the claim, and not a single member of Zelenskyy's team are named. The imagined links between Soros and Zelenskyy were first reported by Rossiyskaya Gazeta, the official newspaper of the Russian government, in a February 2019 article which counts "friends of George Soros and other globalists" among members of Zelenskyy's election team, without further elaboration. The Soros-Zelenskyy angle has since been picked up by pro-Kremlin websites in Russia and Ukraine, although the stories are usually unburdened by evidence. In a rare stab at fact-based reporting, one Russian website draws a link between Soros and Zelenskyy's economic adviser by noting that, in 1993, the latter enrolled in an Estonian university where the tuition fee for his first year of study was partly covered by the Soros Fund. | Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine, Puppets, US presence in Europe, George Soros, Ukrainian statehood |
9,920 | 13.05.2019 | There are more than 4 million refugees in Germany | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/there-are-more-than-4mln-refugees-in-germany | ru.armeniasputnik.am | Iran, Germany | Outlet language(s)
Russian | About 3 million Afghan refugees are stuck in Iran. Tehran with the great effort delays them, not allowing to continue their way further to Germany or France. If the Afghans succeed in entering Europe, Germany will be doomed. There are already more than 4 million refugees (mainly from Syria). And France is not in the best shape although there are not so many migrants there.But the situation in North Africa shows that Paris will still be weeping because of this problem. | This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the migration crisis in Europe. Exaggerated and unproven information on 4 million refugees in Germany. No evidence or reliable sources given. During 2015 and 2016, Germany admitted more than one million persons seeking protection. Germany reported the largest total number of immigrants (917.1 thousand) in 2017. According to a recent (February 2019) factsheet from the UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency), the number of refugees in Germany is 1,4 million. | migration, Islamisation, Refugees |
9,921 | 13.05.2019 | Ukraine is a degrading state | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/ukraine-is-a-degrading-state | Rossia 24 | Ukraine | Outlet language(s)
Russian | If one would compare Ukraine to a hotel, one could say it sank to the ranking of a two-star hotel. Ukraine is degrading rapidly. The situation for the Ukrainian people is very sad. | No evidence given. Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Ukraine as a failed state. | Ukraine, Abandoned Ukraine, Economic difficulties |
9,922 | 13.05.2019 | There is no evidence of Russian interference in Western elections | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/there-is-no-evidence-of-russian-interference-in-western-elections | RT Germany - YouTube,Sputnik Germany,RT Germany (old) | Russia | Outlet language(s)
German | There is no evidence of Russian interference in Western elections. It is almost a tradition: as soon as elections take place somewhere, preferably in Western countries, warnings of possible Russian influence make the rounds. In the run-up to the forthcoming elections to the European Parliament, this concern is also a worry for those responsible in the EU countries. However, there are no indications of any such activities from the Russian side. | Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative that allegations of Russian interference in electoral processes in the EU and in the West are spread by European elites in order to divert attention from the real problems of EU countries. Disinformation produced and/or spread by Russian sources has been reported in the context of several elections and referenda in the EU, as noted in the EU's action plan against disinformation. Ahead of the European elections 2019, Microsoft registered cyberattacks targeting think tanks and non-profit organisations working on topics related to democracy, electoral integrity, and public policy and that are often in contact with government officials. Microsoft continues to investigate the sources of these attacks, but is confident that many of them originated from a group called Strontium, also known as APT 28 or Fancy Bear – which is believed to be associated with Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU. Read more here. Moreover, numerous investigations have provided convincing evidence of Russian interference in the Brexit referendum and in elections across Europe and in the US - see more information here, here and here. See here for the list of the reports on Russian efforts to influence elections in various European countries. | EU elections 2019, election meddling, West, Anti-Russian, European Union, Elections |
9,923 | 13.05.2019 | The West aims at cultivating anti-Russian sentiments in Belarus | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/the-west-aims-at-cultivating-anti-russian-sentiments-in-belarus | argumenti.ru | Poland, US, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia | Outlet language(s)
Russian | The West wants to disrupt Belarus-Russia relations by promoting Belarusian nationalism similar to the Ukrainian model. It is reported that the US and Poland have stopped financing all human rights organisations in Belarus in exchange for a nationalistic course set by Alyaksandr Lukashenka. The most important news opportunities for the promotion of nationalistic Belarusian sentiments in the Belarusian society are the anniversary of the Belarusian Popular Republic, the Kurapaty memorial site, the construction of Belarusian nuclear power plant, and discrediting the Russian Orthodox Church. Public protests are in a way the Belarusian opposition’s form of reporting to the West. | This message is a conspiracy consistent with most common Belarus-related pro-Kremlin narratives, that is about the West's attempts to stage a colour revolution in Belarus, to turn Belarus into an anti-Russian country, about Belarusian democratic opposition, civil society and independent media being subservient to the West, and that the Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church is favoured by the West in order to organise a full-scale split from the Russian Orthodox Church. Furthermore, the message mentions Kurapaty memorial site which has recently turned into another object of pro-Kremlin propaganda claiming that the West attempts to use the memorial to destabilize Belarus. | West, Anti-Russian, Colour revolutions, Conspiracy theory |
9,924 | 13.05.2019 | US might provoke tensions in Georgia's Pankisi Gorge and build military base near Russian border | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/us-intervened-georgia-under-the-pretext-of-countering-terrorism | Saerto Gazeti | Georgia, US | Outlet language(s)
Georgian | The US has an interest in destabilising Georgia’s Pankisi Gorge, inhabited by ethnic Chechens. The US might provoke tensions in the Gorge and under the pretext of countering terrorism, it will build military bases in Georgia near the Russian border. The US special forces entered Georgia before under anti-terrorism motive and never left. Thus, the US seeks for any ground to have a military presence in Georgia. | Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative portraying Georgia's Pankisi Gorge as a safe haven for terrorists and the US as supporting terrorism. In fact, the government of Georgia regained control over Pankisi Gorge through the Train and Equip Program (GTEP) by the US Government, which ultimately saved the country from Russian intervention. See other examples here. GTEP, with a budget worth USD 64 million, began on May 27, 2002, and was implemented in several phases. As a result, Georgia's Armed Forces significantly increased its capacity in the direction of combined operations implementation; abilities and skills of conducting anti-terrorist operations were improved and strengthened. Approximately 2,600 Georgian soldiers went through training in the framework of GTEP. | Muslim/Islam, Terrorism |
9,925 | 13.05.2019 | Lithuania is afflicted by total Russophobia | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/lithuania-is-struck-by-total-russophobia | newinform.com | Lithuania, Russia | Outlet language(s)
Russian | The actions of this country are afflicted by “total Russophobia”. The Lithuanian leadership aims to initiate new sanctions against Russia. They do not go deep into what exactly Russia has decided, what advantages and opportunities the residents of Donbas will have. For them, it is very important to raise noise in Ukraine. | Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russophobia, including in Lithuania. Since March 2014, the EU has progressively imposed restrictive measures against Russia. The measures were adopted in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and the deliberate destabilisation of Ukraine. More on EU’s restrictive measures against Russia is available here. | Anti-Russian, Sanctions, Russophobia |
9,926 | 12.05.2019 | The IMF impoverishes Ukraine | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/the-imf-impoverishes-ukraine | russian.rt.com | Ukraine | Outlet language(s)
Russian | The IMF is carrying out an experiment on the Ukraine and its people. It makes a rich country impoverished, as it happened everywhere it went. | Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about the West taking away everything from Ukraine - for similar cases see here and here. Ukraine's comprehensive programme of economic reforms, backed by IMF loans, aims to restore macroeconomic stability, promote sustainable growth, and strengthen economic governance and transparency. It also includes a new social protection program which aims at providing social assistance for low-income families. See here for more information about the relations between Ukraine and the IMF. | Ukraine, economy, IMF |
9,927 | 12.05.2019 | US is destabilising the world, organising colour revolutions, political and economic crises | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/us-organizes-destabilization-all-over-the-world-inspires-colour-revolutions | sputnik-abkhazia.ru | US | Outlet language(s)
Russian | The US’ geopolitical power is declining. That is why the country is betting on destructive processes in the world. Starting wars, inciting political and economic crises, organising colour revolutions. However, Russia successfully neutralises destructive plans of the US and regularly stands in Washington’s way. | This is a recurring pro-Kremlin narrative casting civil uprisings in other states as US-funded "colour revolutions", also present in the case of Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Venezuela. Consistent with multiple pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about the US and its global role. | Colour revolutions |
9,928 | 12.05.2019 | The EU portrays itself as ideologically "better" than its member states | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/the-eu-portrays-itself-as-ideologically-better-than-its-member-states | RT Germany (old) | null | Outlet language(s)
German | The EU portrays itself as ideologically “better” than its member states. In the vociferous election campaigns, it is emphasised that the European Union is an ideologically “better” political institution than the national governments of the individual member states. | No evidence given. Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative on the EU as a disunited and disintegrating bloc, on the corrupt and undemocratic EU and on the failed European values. The European Union does not portray itself as ideologically "better" than its member states. The EU is a political and economic union of 28 Member States. The EU's values are common to the EU countries in a society in which inclusion, tolerance, justice, solidarity and non-discrimination prevail. These values are an integral part of our European way of life: human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law and human rights. This means that each member state of the EU is considered as equal. These values form the basis of the EU and are laid out in the Lisbon Treaty and the EU Charter of fundamental rights. They are common to the EU and all member states. Political decisions in the EU are taken as openly as possible and as closely as possible to the citizens. The EU is governed by the principle of representative democracy, with citizens directly represented both at Union level in the European Parliament and also Member States represented in the European Council and the Council of the EU. | null |
9,929 | 12.05.2019 | The European Parliament has no powers in the EU | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/the-european-parliament-has-no-power-in-the-eu | Sputnik Germany | null | Outlet language(s)
German | The European Parliament has no powers in the EU. The European Parliament is not allowed to adopt or decide anything, but only has an advisory function. Policy in the European Union is not decided by the EU Parliament, but by the Commissioners in the EU Commission, who are appointed or dismissed by the EU President. In fact, not much would change if we had no EU Parliament. It is a representative body. It used to be possible to do without a directly elected parliament and the EU could continue to exist without it. | Recurrent pro-Kremlin narrative questioning the EU institutions' legitimacy and powers and seeking to discourage voter turnout in elections.The European Parliament is a directly-elected institution. Since 1979, it has been elected by EU voters every 5 years. The last elections were in May 2014. The European Parliament is one of the EU's two law-making bodies. It has constitutional-type and ratification powers. It passes EU laws, together with the Council of the EU, based on European Commission proposals. It has budgetary powers, scrutiny over the executive, hears citizens’ petitions, and appoints the European Ombudsman. A detailed overview of the European Parliament’s role in the European decision-making process can be consulted here. As EU co-operation evolved with time, the European Parliament progressed from a purely advisory role to one of co-decision on an equal footing with the Council. The Lisbon Treaty expanded the number of policies which are subject to ordinary legislative procedure to virtually all areas including the areas of freedom, security and justice, external trade, environmental policy and the common agricultural policy. | null |
9,930 | 12.05.2019 | The lobbyists are real rulers of the EU | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/the-lobbyists-are-real-rulers-of-the-eu | RT Germany (old) | null | Outlet language(s)
German | The industry lobbyists are the real rulers of the EU.
The true rulers of the EU are, therefore, the international owners of the banks and corporations that hide behind such gigantic financial organisations and that live all over the world. They do not identify with Europe and certainly not with the people living here.
From the very beginning, the EU has been less about the welfare of people who have been beguiled with open borders (for cheap workers from Eastern Europe) rather than, for example, about the abolition of rights to social security, employment protection and dismissal protection fought for by the labour movement, which are being dismantled by the lobbyists. | Conspiracy theory and recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative on the undemocratic EU and on the failed European values.The EU's broad priorities are set by the European Council, which brings together national and EU-level leaders. Directly elected MEPs represent European citizens in the European Parliament. The interests of the EU as a whole are promoted by the European Commission, whose members are appointed by national governments. Governments defend their own country's national interests in the Council of the European Union. Read more about the EU decision making process here.Interest representation (lobbying) is regulated at the EU level. The EU Transparency Register oversees what interests are being represented at EU level; who represents those interests, and on whose behalf; with what budgets. Among others, it has a public website where organisations representing particular interests at EU level register and update information about their interests. A Code of Conduct also sets out the rules for all those who register and establishes the underlying principles for standards of behaviour in all relations with the EU institutions. | null |
9,931 | 12.05.2019 | Rumours about Russian military presence in Donbas come from linguistic misunderstanding | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/rumours-about-russian-military-presence-in-donbas-come-from-linguistic-misunderstanding | fondsk.ru | Ukraine, Russia | Outlet language(s)
Russian | When rural men from Western Ukraine were sent by the Ukrainian authorities to Donbas to take part in a military operation, they found themselves in a completely different territory with Russian as a dominant language. Hence most of them really believed that they fight with Russians, i.e. with Russia. Moreover, in contrast to Russian language with different words for the Russian language (‘Russkiy’) and for the concepts that have relation to Russia (‘rossiyskiy’), in Ukrainian the same word ‘rosiys’kyy’ is used. Hence it followed for the military men from Western Ukraine that Russian speakers are Russians. As a result, until nowadays many believe that Russian soldiers are present in Donbas. | This narrative claims the war in Ukraine is a civil war and Russia has nothing to do with it. In reality this message is a conspiracy consistent with common pro-Kremlin disinformation about the war in Ukraine. It disregards a multitude of factual evidence of Russian military presence in Donbas. Consult the evidence database and publications with further evidence here and here. It was Russia that provoked a war in Ukraine, and it is not a civil war. The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has stated that “the information available suggests that the situation within the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol amounts to an international armed conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. This international armed conflict began at the latest on 26 February when the Russian Federation deployed members of its armed forces to gain control over parts of the Ukrainian territory without the consent of the Ukrainian Government. The European Union stated in July 2014 that "arms and fighters continue flowing into Ukraine from the Russian Federation". At the NATO Summit in Wales in September 2014, NATO leaders condemned in the strongest terms Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine and demanded that Russia stop and withdraw its forces from Ukraine and along the country’s border. NATO leaders also demanded that Russia comply with international law and its international obligations and responsibilities; end its illegitimate occupation of Crimea; refrain from aggressive actions against Ukraine; halt the flow of weapons, equipment, people and money across the border to the separatists; and stop fomenting tension along and across the Ukrainian border. According to the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Russian special forces and troops operated to mobilize, lead, equip, and support separatist militias in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine from spring 2014 to the present, although their presence was denied by Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted Russia's military presence in Ukraine in 2015. | Russian language, Conspiracy theory, Donbas |
9,932 | 12.05.2019 | The Ukrainian authorities would burn Donbas residents at the stake if it were acceptable | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/ukrainian-authorities-would-burn-donbas-residents-at-the-stake-if-it-was-acceptable-nowadays | fondsk.ru | Ukraine, Russia | Outlet language(s)
Russian | The Ukrainian army and authorities purposefully make the lives of Donbas residents unbearable. For instance, the army destroys water towers and power-relay stations.Kyiv hates that Moscow has offered Russian citizenship to residents of the unrecognised Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics. The Ukrainian authorities want the residents of these territories to suffer and their children to hide underground. Kyiv created the conditions for Donbas residents to die in torment from shelling, hunger, cold, and infections. However, they were saved by Russian humanitarian assistance.In reality, Ukrainian authorities are only interested in the residents of Donbas as subjects of repression and judicial processes with charges of treason. If it were acceptable to burn them at the stake, the Ukrainian authorities would do it. | This case is an extreme variation of typical pro-Kremlin disinformation messages about Ukraine's alleged aggression and intimidation, particularly against Russian speakers living within its borders. It presents completely speculative and unfounded claims about Kyiv's policies concerning the Donetsk and Luhansk territories in order to discredit the Ukrainian authorities and army. There is no evidence that Kyiv is pursuing the harmful and violent policies against civilians described in the article.The article turns the history of the Donbas conflict upside down, claiming that Russia is providing humanitarian assistance, when in fact Russia is responsible for the military conflict in the first place. Ukraine has repeatedly provided evidence of Russia's role in the war in the east of the country. In January 2017, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that Kyiv filed a lawsuit in the International Court of Justice of the United Nations with the aim of bringing Russia to account for committing acts of terrorism and discrimination, which are the result of its illegal aggression against Ukraine. The lawsuit contains all the facts of Russian aggression against Ukraine, evidence of the illegal annexation of the Crimea, and the occupation of Donbas.According to the US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), Russian special forces and troops operated to mobilise, lead, equip, and support separatist militias in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine from spring 2014 to the present.Other examples of disinformation cases alleging discrimination against Donbas residents include claims about cut off water supplies to Luhansk and the prevention of Donbas residents from voting in the presidential elections. | Ukrainian disintegration, Russian expansionism, Ukrainian statehood, Conspiracy theory, Donbas |
9,933 | 12.05.2019 | The EU's aim behind the Eastern Partnership programme is to change the political regimes in Belarus and Russia | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/the-eus-aim-behind-the-eastern-partnership-is-to-change-political-regimes-in-belarus-and-russia | teleskop-by.org | Belarus, Russia | Outlet language(s)
Russian | The West attempts to destroy friendly relations between Belarus and Russia. Under the cover of humanitarian programmes aimed at promoting democracy, like the Eastern Partnership programme, the West aims to change the political regimes in Belarus and Russia and to rip Belarus off Russia. | This is a conspiracy theory consistent with recurring disinformation narratives about Western attempts to disrupt Belarus-Russia relations, about the belligerent West attempting to encircle Russia and West's plans to stage colour revolutions in countries near to its borders including Belarus and Russia. The Eastern Partnership programme aims to reinforce the political association and economic integration of six Eastern European and South Caucasus partner countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. It is not directed against any country, including Belarus or Russia. Read more about the EaP's recent and ongoing activities. See earlier disinformation cases concerning the Eastern Partnership here. | West, Eastern Partnership, Anti-Russian, European Union, Colour revolutions, Conspiracy theory |
9,934 | 12.05.2019 | The EU is a deeply undemocratic construct | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/the-eu-is-a-deeply-undemocratic-construct | RT Germany (old) | null | Outlet language(s)
German | The EU is a deeply undemocratic construct that serves mainly the interests of rich shareholders and owners of corporations who want to exploit EU resources and labour more effectively. For this reason, the people of the EU should fight in solidarity for the residual sovereignty of their nation states, which will allow them a minimum of democracy. | Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative on the undemocratic EU and on the failed European values. | null |
9,935 | 12.05.2019 | Ukrainian local police have approached people wearing the ribbon of St. George, just like in Nazi Germany the police used to attack Jews | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/ukrainian-local-police-have-approached-people-wearing-the-ribbon-of-st-george-just-like-in-nazi-germany-the-police-used-to-attack-jews | Rossia 24,vesti.ru | Germany, Ukraine, Russia | Outlet language(s)
Russian | The local police in Ukraine have approached people wearing ribbons of St. George, just like in Nazi Germany when the police used to attack Jews. Now Ukraine treats Russians the way Nazi Germany treated Jews. | Russian State TV compares Ukrainian local police approaching people wearing St.George ribbons, on the occasion of May 9, with “police attacking Jews” in Nazi Germany. Nazi Ukraine is an often-encountered pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative. The St. George ribbon was banned in Ukraine in 2017 as part of continuing efforts to de-Communise Ukraine. The law introduced fines and potential jail time for people who appear in public wearing a black-and-orange ribbon, after it became widely viewed as a symbol of Russian aggression. The exception is for World War II veterans. On 9 May, Ukrainian police registered 45 incidents in Ukraine about the use of prohibited symbols (“St. George ribbon,” red flags, sickle and hammer symbols), according to the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In fact, this has nothing to do with the way Jews were persecuted in Nazi Germany. | Ukraine, legislation, Abandoned Ukraine, Ethnic Russians, Nazi/Fascist |
9,936 | 12.05.2019 | The newly adopted Ukrainian language law is a racist law | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/the-newly-adopted-ukrainian-language-law-is-a-racist-law | Rossia 24 | Ukraine, Russia | Outlet language(s)
Russian | The newly adopted Ukrainian language law is a racist law. | Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Ukraine and discrimination against Russian speakers, and in particular about the recent Ukrainian language law. The law requires all Ukrainian citizens to know the state language and that it be used while performing official duties. The new law also requires that 90% of TV and film content be in Ukrainian and for Ukrainian-language printed media and books to make up at least 50% of the total output. There are exemptions for private communications and religious ceremonies. The law would allow some providers of health services and law enforcement to use other languages, such as Russian, by mutual agreement. The law does not define what language is to be used in private conversations. | Ukraine, legislation, Ethnic Russians |
9,937 | 11.05.2019 | Bloomberg started information war against Russia and works against Belarus-Russia relations | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/bloomberg-began-an-information-war-against-russia-and-works-against-belarus-russia-relations | Podneprovie | Belarus, Russia | Outlet language(s)
Russian | Bloomberg wrote about Vladimir Putin’s insidious plot concerning Belarus and referred to an anonymous source close to the Kremlin. The anonymous source is a trick, as in reality it does not exist. Anything can be published based on references to the “sources close to the Kremlin”. Bloomberg does its best to turn Belarus and Russia against each other to prevent the establishment of the Union State between the two countries. Bloomberg will continue writing about political and economic disagreements between Belarus and Russia, and its future allegations will be based on the “sources close to the Kremlin”. It was indeed Bloomberg who started an information war against Russia, and it was Bloomberg who was at the head of all international conflicts. | This message is conspiracy which is consistent with repetitive pro-Kremlin narratives about the West staging an anti-Russia information war, West's attempts to disrupt Belarus-Russia relations, and about Western media outlets as subservient to Western political elites. On 24 April 2019 Bloomberg published an article, titled Putin’s Term Limit Stirs Fears of a Takeover in Belarus. It says that Russia's recent slash of economic subsidies to Belarus fuels fears in Minsk that the Kremlin may look for Belarus' possible absorption. According to the article, three people close to the Kremlin said to Bloomberg that "Putin may lay plans to head a unified state with neighboring Belarus to sidestep a constitutional ban on remaining president after 2024." The use of unnamed sources does not violate journalist ethics under certain conditions. It is justified when information from source is important to the story, could not be obtained any other way and the source is credible, the International Journalists' Network explainer says. After an increase in tensions between Belarus and Russia in December 2018, Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko himself publicly spoke about Moscow's interest to incorporate Belarus under the cover of 'deep integration'. Belarusian and Russian state-owned and state-controlled media regularly report about political and economic disagreements between the two countries. Episodic Bloomberg publications about Belarus-Russia relations do not stand out in this respect. See a similar recent disinformation case alleging that Russian company Rosneft is an object of defamatory campaign by Reuters and other western media. | West, Anti-Russian, Media, Conspiracy theory, Information war |
9,938 | 11.05.2019 | Russia introduced passport control at the border with Belarus because of European fraud with export of food | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/russia-introduced-passport-control-at-the-border-with-belarus-because-of-european-fraud-with-export-of-food | Podneprovie | Belarus, Russia | Outlet language(s)
Russian | EU businesses did multiple attempts to bypass Russian embargo and to sell their food products on the Russian market. This way Europeans framed the Belarusian government. These massive provocations by EU businesses resulted in a passport control on Belarus-Russia border that the Russian government had to introduce. | This ungrounded claim is consistent with recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation about West's attempts to bring discord in Belarus-Russia relations.In the last years Russia indeed restricted control at the border with Belarus. It established a security zone with random border controls along the border with Belarus and moved flights to Belarus from domestic to international terminals. Given that the signing of the Agreement on mutual recognition of visas between Belarus and Russia is delayed, the issue of transit through Belarus-Russian border for third country nationals remains unresolved.However, the Russian side has never named the re-export of EU embargoed food through Belarus as a reason behind the restrictions on moving through Belarus-Russia border. Instead Russian MFA cited "increased risks linked to terrorist and migration issues." | European Union, Conspiracy theory |
9,939 | 10.05.2019 | Not a single air defence system of the Russian armed forces has ever crossed the Ukrainian border | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/not-a-single-anti-aircraft-missile-system-of-the-russian-armed-forces-has-ever-crossed-the-russian-ukrainian | RT Germany (old) | The Netherlands, Ukraine, Russia | Outlet language(s)
German | Not a single air defence system of the Russian armed forces has ever crossed the Ukrainian-[Russian] border. | One of the multiple pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about the downing of the MH17 flight.The JIT has been able to identify a large part of the route concerning the arrival and the departure of the BUK-TELAR. This was the result of intercepted telephone conversations, witness statements, photographs and videos that had been posted on social media, and a video never shown before which was obtained from a witness. The system was transported from Russian territory into eastern Ukraine and was later transported on a white Volvo truck with a low-boy trailer. The truck was escorted by several other vehicles and by armed men in uniform.The Joint Investigation Team has concluded that flight MH17 was shot down on 17 July 2014 by a missile of the 9M38 series, launched by a BUK-TELAR, from farmland in the vicinity of Pervomaiskiy (or: Pervomaiskyi). At that time, the area was controlled by pro-Russian fighters. The BUK-TELAR was brought in from the territory of the Russian Federation and subsequently, after having shot down flight MH-17, was taken back to the Russian Federation.24 May 2018, JIT stated that the BUK-TELAR that was used to down MH17 originates from the 53rd Anti Aircraft Missile brigade, a unit of the Russian army from Kursk in the Russian Federation. The JIT reached this conclusion after extensive comparative research. Several images of the BUK-TELAR with which MH17 was downed are available. Analysis of those produces a number of characteristics. The combination of those is so special that they can be considered as a fingerprint. This fingerprint has been compared with numerous images of BUK-TELARS, both Ukrainian and Russian ones. The only BUK-TELAR on which this combination of characteristics also was found, is a BUK-TELAR that was recorded several times when it joined a convoy of the 53rd brigade on 23 – 25 June 2014.Furthermore, a joint international open source investigation led by Bellingcat has identified conclusively that the person of interest known as ‘Andrey Ivanovich’ or ‘Orion’ whose identity is sought by the Joint Investigating Team in connection with the criminal investigation into the downing of MH17, is in fact Russian citizen Oleg Vladimirovich Ivannikov. Ivannikov was an officer of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Ministry of Defence (GRU), and served in that function until at least as late as September 2017. During his undercover deployment to LNR, he coordinated and supervised the military activities of Russian militants, pro-Russian separatists and “private army” contingents from the Wagner group. Ivannikov also supervised the procurement and transport of weapons across the Russia Ukraine border. He held these functions at the time of the downing of MH17.The European Union and NATO have called on the Russian Federation to accept its responsibility and to fully cooperate with all efforts to establish accountability.On the basis of the JIT’s conclusions, the Netherlands and Australia are convinced that Russia is responsible for the deployment of the Buk installation that was used to down MH17. These two governments are formally holding Russia accountable. | MH17 |
9,940 | 10.05.2019 | The Netherlands tried to hide important evidence of the MH17 disaster | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/the-netherlands-has-tried-to-hide-important-evidence-of-the-mh17-disaster | RT Germany (old) | The Netherlands, Ukraine, Russia | Outlet language(s)
German | The Netherlands tried to hide important evidence of the MH17 disaster. Amsterdam wants to protect the Ukrainian authorities at all costs and blame Russia for the shooting down of the plane. | Recurring MH17-related disinformation. According to the Dutch Council of State, it is necessary that the information remains confidential, as it is likely that disclosure thereof could jeopardise the proper functioning of the committee. The Council found this more important than the interest of disclosure. "The interest of disclosure does not outweigh the interest protected by the refusal, such as the relations of the Netherlands with other states and international organisations, respect for the privacy of the parties involved and the protection of personal policy views", the Council ruled.The information that the Dutch militants are looking into how to use a BUK-missile to hit other military aircraft is pure conspiracy.BackgroundMany competing and contradictory stories promulgated by Russian state-controlled media on MH17.The Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team has concluded that flight MH17 was shot down on 17 July 2014 by a missile of the 9M38 series, launched by a BUK-TELAR, from farmland in the vicinity of Pervomaiskiy (or: Pervomaiskyi). At that time, the area was controlled by pro-Russian fighters. The BUK-TELAR was brought in from the territory of the Russian Federation and subsequently, after having shot down flight MH-17, was taken back to the Russian Federation.On 24 May 2018, JIT stated that the BUK-TELAR that was used to down MH17 originates from the 53rd Anti Aircraft Missile brigade, a unit of the Russian army from Kursk in the Russian Federation. | MH17 |
9,941 | 10.05.2019 | Western elites behind ongoing genocide of Christians | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/western-elites-behind-ongoing-genocide-of-christians | RT English | France | Outlet language(s)
English | A thousand French churches were vandalised in 2018, amid total media silence. European elites are not just indifferent to the ongoing genocide of Christians, but outright complicit in it. Western politicians want to get rid of Christians to implement a new world order, and are using Muslims to do their dirty job. | Recurring pro-Kremlin conspiracy narrative portraying Christians, who account for three quarters of Europe's total population, as an oppressed minority. A February 2019 Interior Ministry communique records 1,063 "anti-Christian acts" committed throughout 2018, without further differentiation between the type, gravity, or target of these acts. The figures have been reported in all of France's widest-read newspapers. On the other hand, a detailed report for 2017 records 878 acts of vandalism perpetrated against all types of "Christian sites," which aside from churches include cemeteries, chapels, calvaries, statues, and tombs (p. 14-15). Commenting on the data, even French bishops described the incidents as "less pressing" than those targeting religious minorities, adding that the Christian clergy in France" do not want it thought that they feel persecuted." The remainder of the segment is dedicated to advancing pro-Kremlin conspiracy theories and long-debunked disinformation narratives concerning the "New World Order," the global elites, and the creeping Islamisation of Europe. | Islamisation, New World Order, Secret elites / global elites, European values, Genocide, Europe, Christianity |
9,942 | 10.05.2019 | Ukraine’s claims regarding the Kerch Strait are not adequate | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/ukraines-claims-regarding-the-kerch-strait-are-not-adequate | pl.sputniknews.com | Ukraine, Russia | Outlet language(s)
Polish | Ukraine’s claims regarding the Kerch Strait presented in the International Sea Tribunal are not adequate. The issue of authority over Crimea as an integral part of Russian Federation and Crimea-adjacent sea territories essentially cannot be subject of any court proceedings. | A recurring narrative on the Kerch Strait and Crimea. The use of the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov is regulated by a bilateral treaty between Russia and Ukraine, signed in 2003 and ratified by Russia in 2004. According to the document, the Sea of Azov is considered to be the “internal waters” of both Russia and Ukraine. The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in Hamburg announced its decision on the Kerch Strait incident on 25 May. It 'has ruled that Russia must “immediately” release 24 Ukrainian sailors and three Ukrainian naval vessels captured by Russia in November'. Representatives of Russia vowed not to show up at the initial hearing. As for Crimea being part of Russia, no international body recognises the so-called referendum held on the 16th of March 2014. On the 27th of March 2014, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which stated that the referendum in Crimea was not valid and could not serve as a basis for any change in the status of the peninsula. Five years on, the EU re-affirmed its support for Ukraine's territorial integrity. | Territorial dispute, Azov sea, Kerch, Crimea |
9,943 | 10.05.2019 | Ukraine's claims for rights to the Kerch Strait are completely inappropriate | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/ukraine-has-no-right-to-use-the-kerch-strait | russian.rt.com,crimea.ria.ru | Ukraine | Outlet language(s)
Russian | Claims presented by Ukraine to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea concerning the country’s rights to the Kerch strait are completely inappropriate. Questions of sovereignty over the Crimea as an integral part of the Russian Federation and the adjacent maritime zone, in principle, can not be the subject of any legal proceedings. | The disinformation message is a response to the hearing on May 10 at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea of Ukraine’s case concerning last year’s detention by the Russian Federation of three Ukrainian naval vessels and their crews. Russia declined to participate in the hearings claiming that the International Tribunal does not have the jurisdiction to hear this case. According to international law, Ukraine has a right to use the Black and Azov Seas. The illegal annexation of Crimea does not deprive Ukraine of the right to navigate in its internal waters. In 2012, Ukraine and Russia concluded an additional agreement ensuring safe navigation in the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait. Article 44 of the UN International Convention on the Law of the Sea states that bordering states are not allowed to hinder international shipping in the strait. Both Russia and Ukraine are party to several treaties, laws and regulations that guarantee the free use of those seas by both countries. In December 2003, Ukraine and Russia signed an agreement on cooperation on using the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait. The agreement states that any vessel, including warships, can freely move through the waters of the strait and the surrounding area. | Azov sea, Kerch, Crimea |
9,944 | 09.05.2019 | A big number of European countries are under a new form of colonialism | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/a-big-number-of-european-countries-are-under-a-new-form-of-colonialism | sputnik.by | null | Outlet language(s)
Russian | In the last decades a considerable number of European countries have lost their sovereignty. Ideological dogmas of liberal political correctness serve as a cover for a new form of colonialism. In many European countries political elites follow the mentioned dogmas and totally lack a sense of responsibility about their respective countries and peoples. | Conspiracy theory consistent with three out of the five most common pro-Kremlin propaganda narratives, namely the elites vs. the people, threatened values, and lost sovereignty. Claims that certain countries are no longer truly sovereign is another very frequent narrative promoted by the pro-Kremlin disinformation sources. Examples of this narrative are numerous: Ukraine is ruled by foreigners, The EU is directed by Washington, Lithuania is occupied by NATO. | null |
9,945 | 09.05.2019 | The European Parliament does not have real powers, EU bureaucrats decide | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/european-parliament-does-not-have-real-powers-eu-bureaucrats-decide | sputnik.by | null | Outlet language(s)
Russian | The European Parliament does not have real powers and opportunities to influence the decisions taken by bureaucrats and pragmatic politicians. | This claim misrepresents the competences of the European Parliament and is consistent with a recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about a dysfunctional EU governed by the bureaucrats and elites who are out of touch with the needs of the people. See an earlier case about Brussels bureaucrats.The European Commission cannot adopt new legislation or amend existing EU legislation without consent from the Council of the EU and the European Parliament. The European Parliament is directly elected by the EU’s population. It approves and removes the president of the European Commission. The European Parliament also has the power to censure the Commission with a vote of two-thirds of its members, thereby forcing the Commission to resign.As EU co-operation evolved with time, the European Parliament progressed from a purely advisory role to one of co-decision on an equal footing with the Council. The Lisbon Treaty expanded the number of policies which are subject to ordinary legislative procedure to virtually all areas including the areas of freedom, security and justice, external trade, environmental policy and the common agricultural policy. | null |
9,946 | 09.05.2019 | The Council of Europe will die without Russia's membership | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/council-of-europe-will-die-without-russias-membership | sputnik.by | Russia | Outlet language(s)
Russian | In a few weeks, two years will have passed since Russia stopped paying its annual contributions to the Council of Europe. Moscow is not concerned with this situation and is ready to leave the organisation. The Council of Europe will ultimately die without Russia.If Russia leaves, the European Court of Human Rights will bear the greatest negative consequences as it will lose the largest human-rights ‘market’. This will result in a strong blow to the Council of Europe’s prestige. | This message is consistent with the pro-Kremlin narrative about the imminent collapse of Western and European institutions. Examples of the cases following this narrative include: a dying EU promotes an anti-Russian, anti-democratic agenda and NATO is useless.After the annexation of Crimea in 2014, Russia's voting rights in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) were suspended. In protest, Russia stopped paying its annual contributions to the Council of Europe (CoE) in June 2017.After two years of non-payment of its contributions, that is from June 2019, Russia could be formally excluded from the CoE through a decision of its Committee of Ministers. It could also opt to leave.Though Russia's withdrawal would affect the reputations of both the CoE and Russia, there is no good reason to believe that this development would result in the death of the organisation. The Council of Europe includes 47 member states with approximately 820 million citizens. The CoE has functioned previously without Russia as a member state since its establishment in 1949 until 1996 when Russia joined.The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) is one of the institutions which safeguard human rights in Europe. Even though Russia has the biggest number of cases pending in the Court, the number of cases has nothing to do with the institution's prestige. If Russia was to leave the organisation, Russian citizens would be deprived of the chance to defend their rights at the ECtHR. | Council of Europe, Anti-Russian, Europe, Conspiracy theory |
9,947 | 09.05.2019 | The Council of Europe is Russophobic and rulings from the Strasbourg Court are anti-Russian | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/the-council-of-europe-is-russophobic-and-the-strasbourg-court-rulings-are-anti-russian | sputnik.by | Russia | Outlet language(s)
Russian | It is questionable, if Russia really needs membership of the Council of Europe in its present Russophobic form.The negative attitude of the Russian public towards the European Court of Human Rights is partly explained by its regularly biased, anti-Russian judgments. | Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russophobia.Russia's voting rights in the Council of Europe were suspended after it illegally annexed Crimea. The voting rights have since been restored.The claim that the European Court of Human Rights adopt anti-Russian rulings is ungrounded. The share of the Court's rulings on Russian-related applications where at least one violation of the European Convention of Human Rights was found by Court is not outstanding, the Court's 2018 Annual report shows. According to it, in 2,365 out of the 2,501 Russian-related cases at least one violation was found, that is in about 95% of cases. For example, the corresponding statistics was 1,273 and 1,434 cases for Romania (89%), 1,274 and 1,304 cases for Ukraine (98%). Hence the corresponding shares for some other CoE member states is around as high as for Russia, sometimes even higher.Russia leads among other CoE member states in terms of pending cases in the ECtHR with 11,750 cases currently pending, which is a total of 20.9% of the backlog of cases, the same report from the Court shows. It is followed by Romania (8,500 cases) and Ukraine (7,250 cases). However, this figure does not mean anti-Russian bias as it just reflects the large numbers of applications lodged to the ECtHR by the nationals of given CoE member states.See earlier disinformation cases about the Council of Europe and its bodies. | Council of Europe, Anti-Russian, Europe, Conspiracy theory |
9,948 | 09.05.2019 | Romanians feel less trust in the united Europe | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/romanians-confidence-in-the-eu-is-declining | ro.sputnik.md | Romania | Outlet language(s)
Romanian | Romanians feel less trust in the united Europe. The overall decline of popularity and confidence in the EU led to Brexit and other “exitings” in preparation. | This message is in line with the pro-Kremlin narrative on the disintegration of the EU. The latest EU barometer shows that Romanian citizens' confidence in European structures is high. Moreover, six out of ten Romanians declare that they tend to trust the European Parliament (60%, +4 pp compared to the data recorded in 2017), higher than the European average (48%). The European Commission and the European Central Bank also enjoy a higher confidence than the European average. One in two Romanians says they tend to trust these institutions, against the background of a European average of 43% and 41%, respectively. At the general EU level, the Eurobarometer survey shows highest support for the EU in 35 years. In addition, 60% of Europeans positively view EU membership. | Euro-scepticism, EU disintegration, European Union |
9,949 | 09.05.2019 | Polish and Lithuanian mercenaries spotted by Luhansk militias in Eastern Ukraine | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/polish-and-lithuanian-mercenaries-spotted-by-luhansk-militias-in-eastern-ukraine | mundo.sputniknews.com | Ukraine | Outlet language(s)
Spanish | Paramilitary elements from Poland and Lithuania working for a foreign security firm arrived to an area in Eastern Ukraine to train Ukrainian troops in sabotage techniques, according to the spokesperson of the Luhansk militias, Ivan Filiponenko. | No evidence given to support this claim. The existence of paramilitary fighters or mercenaries from NATO or US-friendly countries is a recurrent narrative in Russian disinformation since at least 2014, and it prompted a diplomatic protest from Poland back then. The allegation has been repeatedly debunked in those years, but resurfaces again and again since it is useful to try to discredit the Ukrainian army and the countries that support Kiev efforts for stabilization. Many false incidents have been attributed this ‘ghost army’, from rapes to vendettas against Ukrainian soldiers due to low morale. See here for other disinformation cases about alleged presence of foreign mercenaries in Eastern Ukraine, from Baltic snipers to snipers from Georgia, female snipers from Poland, and even a whole NATO brigade. | Ukraine, Eastern Ukraine, Foreign mercenaries, Donbas, War in Ukraine |
9,950 | 09.05.2019 | Western powers try to keep Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in the dark | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/western-powers-try-to-keep-soviet-victory-over-nazi-germany-in-the-dark | mundo.sputniknews.com | USSR | Outlet language(s)
Spanish | Western governments use different methods to prevent awareness in the public on the tremendous Soviet contribution to victory over Nazi Germany in World War II and its suffering. This censorship is a defence mechanism of capitalism, to keep in the dark that there was an alternative to it and many people fought and died for that alternative. | An unfounded claim, not supported by evidence. European political leaders were present at Victory Day celebrations until the Russian aggression in Ukraine; media, scholars and historians in Europe are regularly describing the Soviet war effort. In several European countries, memorials are in place to commemorate Russia's contribution to the victory over Nazism. As it is often the case in historical issues, the 'adequate' degree of attention paid to the different fronts in World War II is a subjective matter. However, affirming that there is a deliberate and concerted effort to ignore the USSR role in WWII in Western countries and that different methods are used to achieve it is a falseness. Actually, Vladimir Putin's government has consciously exploited the epic of Soviet victory over Nazi Germany for political reasons, and minimised the role played by other Allied powers. You can see other examples of this exploitation here and here. | World War 2, USSR |
9,951 | 09.05.2019 | Poroshenko is facing diverse criminal charges after the wind has changed | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/poroshenko-is-facing-diverse-criminal-charges-after-the-wind-has-changed | francais.rt.com | Ukraine | Outlet language(s)
French | While Petro Poroshenko must hand over the keys to the presidency before June 2, law enforcement proceedings are accelerating. On May 7, Poroshenko did not appear at the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office. The summons is issued in the framework of the investigation into the Maidan revolution of winter 2014, which resulted in dozens of deaths, and plunged the east of the country into civil war. In November 2017, the Ukrainian judiciary decided to open an “investigation into the seizure of forced power in February 2014”, following a request by the overthrown president in the coup, Viktor Yanukovych. He had asked to investigate the involvement of several Ukrainian officials and politicians in the coup. All this leads to a collapse of the narrative maintained until then by the Ukrainian authorities, the Westerners and the media: a revolution that would be popular, spontaneous … and pro-European Union. The wind seems to have changed. A group of specialists was formed in order to bring the outgoing president to justice. It aims to force the Ukrainian courts and law enforcers to put President Poroshenko and his circle in prison. | The Ukrainian Prosecutor's office's representative has indeed complained that Petro Poroshenko did not come to the interview, scheduled on May 7, but as a witness in the case of Euromaidan's causalities. The interview of Poroshenko as a witness took place three days later on May 10. No evidence was given that this summons could be evidence against Poroshenko himself. By the end of 2018, 438 people were suspects in Euromaidan murder cases, 52 has been convicted and 9 "Titushkas" (mercenary agents supporting police during Euromaidan clashes) are currently serving real prison terms, according to Ukrainian prosecutors. In 2017, the lawyer of Victor Yanukovych announced that a pretrial investigation number was opened in Ukraine following a complaint from his client. No other confirmations or further information on any possible defendants followed since then, including from the Ukrainian Prosecutor's office. The creation of the "group of specialists formed in order to bring the outgoing president to justice" was announced by the journalist Svetlana Kryukova in Ukraine. She spoke about private detectives looking "for the offshore accounts of Poroshenko" and other evidence of illicit enrichment. However, this private initiative cannot be considered as proof of any criminal charges or pretrial investigations into Poroshenko's activity. The disinformation message also refers to recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the War in East Ukraine. | Petro Poroshenko, Euromaidan |
9,952 | 08.05.2019 | Ukrainian language law deprives people of their rights and freedoms | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/language-law-deprives-people-of-their-rights-and-freedoms | Nash TV Channel - YouTube | Ukraine | Outlet language(s)
Russian | Ukrainian language law makes it almost impossible for the Russian-speaking population [in Ukraine] to use the Russian language. This applies not only to the Russian language, but also to Hungarian and others […] That is, the law deprives people of their fundamental rights and freedoms. Moreover, the Constitution and the procedure of consideration were violated. | Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the Ukrainian language law and discrimination against Russian speakers. The Verkhovna Rada passed on April 25 the law "On ensuring the functioning of the Ukrainian language as a state language". The law establishes mandatory use of the Ukrainian language in most areas of public and communal life, including the mass media, education, science, etc. However, the law does not forbid the use of Russian and other languages in private communication and religious ceremonies. Moreover, Russian and other languages can be present in book publishing, the press, including radio and television, education and the service sector. The law allows the use of other languages in the healthcare system and in law enforcement. Ukrainian language, though, is preferred. In addition to this, the law stipulates that in accordance with the European Charter for Regional Languages and Languages of National Minorities, the government should develop a law safeguarding languages rights of minorities during the six months after the language law enters into force. For background on the Ukrainian language laws, see here. | Ukraine, Human rights, Russian language, Ethnic Russians |
9,953 | 08.05.2019 | There is no Russian aggression, there is a civil conflict in Eastern Ukraine | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/there-is-no-russian-aggression-there-is-a-civil-conflict-in-eastern-ukraine | Nash TV Channel - YouTube | Ukraine, Russia | Outlet language(s)
Russian | There are objective and subjective reasons why civil war in the East of Ukraine is not resolved. In part because the Ukrainian regime cannot confess to this crime. The regime that will take responsibility for the beginning, development, and continuation of the civil conflict in the East must be held responsible in the court. The Ukrainians invented a beautiful tale about intervention, about the aggressor, but in fact, they were telling us only a quarter of the truth. | Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Ukraine and the war in Ukraine. Russia provoked the war in Eastern Ukraine. The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court recognised that “the information available suggests that the situation within the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol amounts to an international armed conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation". The international armed conflict began at the latest on 26 February 2014 when the Russian Federation deployed members of its armed forces to gain control over parts of the Ukrainian territory without the consent of the Ukrainian Government. The European Union stated in July 2014 that "arms and fighters continue flowing into Ukraine from the Russian Federation". At the NATO Summit in Wales in September 2014, NATO leaders condemned in the strongest terms Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine and demanded Russia to stop and withdraw its forces from Ukraine and from the country’s border. NATO leaders also demanded Russia to comply with international law and its international obligations and responsibilities; refrain from aggressive actions against Ukraine; halt the flow of weapons, equipment, people and money across the border to the separatists; and stop fomenting tension along and across the Ukrainian border. According to the US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), Russian special forces and troops operated to mobilise, lead, equip, and support separatist militias in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine from spring 2014 to the present, although their presence was denied by Moscow. | Ukraine, Eastern Ukraine, Russian expansionism, Crimea, Donbas, War in Ukraine |
9,954 | 08.05.2019 | Ukraine wants to place nuclear mines on the border with Russia | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/ukraine-places-nuclear-mines-on-the-border-with-russia | gazeta.ru | Ukraine, Russia | Outlet language(s)
Russian | Ukraine wants to install nuclear mines along the length of the entire border with Russia. The location of mines should be recognised as a state secret, because Ukraine can develop its own nuclear weapons without any obstacles. | There is no Ukrainian state program that would involve the creation of nuclear weapons. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine gained the third largest nuclear arsenal in the world: 176 intercontinental ballistic missiles and strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons. However, in December 1994, Kyiv signed the Budapest Memorandum. This international document provided security guarantees in exchange for the renunciation of nuclear weapons. The guarantors of the memorandum are the United States, United Kingdom and Russia. In the same year, in 1994, the export of nuclear missiles from Ukraine to Russia began. The process lasted two years. The last Ukrainian nuclear warhead was exported to Russia in the summer of 1996. Ukraine completely lost its nuclear status in 2001, when it dismantled the latest mine-launch facility of intercontinental solid-fuel missiles. Since then, Ukraine does not possess any nuclear weapons. Consistent with recurring pro-Kremling disinfomation narrative on encircled Russia. | Nuclear issues |
9,955 | 08.05.2019 | The European Union was created by Washington as an anti-Russian project | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/the-european-union-was-created-by-washington-as-an-anti-russian-project | orientalreview.org | US | Outlet language(s)
English | The history of the European Union shows that this organisation was never conceived in the interest of the European people, but against Russia. When the USSR was dissolved in 1991, Washington decided to transform the organisation in Brussels into a supra-national structure and introduce the nations of the Warsaw Pact, placing this anti-Russian « European Union » under the protection of NATO, and forbidding it any political role.The European Union has never fought for peace, but only for its Anglo-Saxon masters. | Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative on the United States, dictating EU and member state policies. Similar examples can be found here and here. | EU elections 2019, Europe |
9,956 | 08.05.2019 | Poverty in UK comparable to Sub-Saharan Africa, UN says | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/poverty-in-uk-comparable-to-sub-saharan-africa-un-says | RT English | UK | Outlet language(s)
English | The UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights has compared the level of poverty in the United Kingdom to that found in Sub-Saharan Africa. | False, recurring pro-Kremlin narrative on the decaying Western countries. In his report published in November 2018, Special Rapporteur Philip Alston does identify poverty as a distinct concern for the United Kingdom. The 24-page document, however, contains no reference - let alone a comparison - to sub-Saharan Africa, where more than a quarter of the population faces starvation at any given moment. RT's fabrication might be based on the following remarks, cited by The New York Times: “When you think of the special rapporteurs on extreme poverty and human rights, you expect them to be visiting sub-Saharan Africa or Haiti. You don’t expect them to be visiting the U.K.” The comment does not compare poverty in the UK and elsewhere, it predates the UN report, and it was not made by Philip Alston, but by an expert from the University of Bristol. | United Nations, West, Africa |
9,957 | 08.05.2019 | Leftists and the Yellow vests likely behind the fire at Notre Dame | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/leftists-and-the-yellow-vests-likely-behind-the-fire-at-notre-dame | Komsomolskaya Pravda - Moldova,Ztb.kz | France | Outlet language(s)
Russian | The fire could have been caused by an accident, an Islamist attack or a revenge against Macron from the leftist Yellow vests. In France there are a lot of ultra leftists of all colours, from Trotskyists to anarchists, perhaps this was a planned blow against everything that they hate: religion, state, and Macron as the formal leader. All this, of course, makes the “Islamist” hypothesis much less probable. | Recurring disinformation about the causes of the Notre Dame of Paris fire. The cause of the fire at Notre Dame is not yet clear, the investigation is ongoing. According to the official investigation, most likely an accident occurred due to renovation works activity, which started more then one year ago at Notre-Dame. In particular, according to firemen, the fire started in the area under renovation. The fire began from a spire which was encircled in scaffolding. See other disinformation cases on Notre Dame fire. | Notre Dame, yellow vests, Emmanuel Macron |
9,958 | 07.05.2019 | British intelligence services have disseminated numerous versions of the Skripal incident | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/british-intelligence-services-have-disseminated-numerous-versions-of-the-skripal-incident | russian.rt.com | UK, Russia | Outlet language(s)
Russian | British intelligence services are throwing into the public space numerous versions of the incident in Salisbury. | Classic whataboutism, accusing your critic of exactly what you have been exposed as doing. This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the Salisbury poisoning. The claim about the UK allegedly staging the Skripals' poisoning is an unfounded conspiracy theory. UK police and intelligence investigations have produced hard evidence which is sufficient to charge two Russian nationals for the attack on the Skripals. These two individuals have been established as officers of the Russian Military Intelligence, GRU. More British public documents/statements on the case here and here. The EU Member States support the UK findings, and decided unanimously to introduce sanctions against the GRU officers responsible and their commanding officers. More similar cases on this issue. | Sergei Skripal, Intelligence services, Conspiracy theory |
9,959 | 07.05.2019 | Russia is not a party in the conflict in the East of Ukraine | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/russia-is-not-a-party-of-the-conflict-in-the-east-of-ukraine | russian.rt.com | Ukraine, Russia | Outlet language(s)
Russian | It should be noted that Russia, contrary to the opinion of these observers, is not a party in the conflict in the East of Ukraine, but acts only as a guarantor of the implementation of the Minsk agreements. | Recurring Kremlin narrative about a lack of evidence of the presence of Russian troops involved in war in the East of Ukraine. There is irrefutable evidence of direct Russian military involvement in eastern Ukraine. The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has stated that “the information available suggests that the situation within the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol amounts to an international armed conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. This international armed conflict began at the latest on 26 February 2014 when the Russian Federation deployed members of its armed forces to gain control over parts of the Ukrainian territory without the consent of the Ukrainian Government". Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted Russia's military presence in Ukraine in 2015. More similar disinfo cases on this narrative. | Eastern Ukraine, Hybrid war, Donbas, War in Ukraine |
9,960 | 07.05.2019 | United States intends to maintain control over Ukraine | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/united-states-intends-to-maintain-control-over-ukraine | russian.rt.com | US, Ukraine | Outlet language(s)
Russian | The United States intends to maintain control over Ukraine and is concerned about the unpredictability of Zelenskiy’s actions and his ability to start negotiations with Russia. | Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the statehood of Ukraine, portraying it as a failed state under foreign control.Ukraine is a sovereign state. Neither the US, nor the EU control Ukraine. Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected by most of the free world, but were violated by Russia in 2014.The relations between the US and Ukraine are bilateral relations between two independent countries. The US recognised Ukraine as an independent state on 25 December 1991. US policy is centred on realising and strengthening a stable, democratic, prosperous, and free Ukraine, more closely integrated into Europe and Euro-Atlantic structures.See previous disinformation cases on this issue. | Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine, Conspiracy theory |
9,961 | 07.05.2019 | Poland to build a memorial site to Adolf Hitler at Wolf's Lair | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/poland-to-erect-adolf-hitlers-monument-at-wolfs-lair | sputnik-georgia.ru,Sputnik Russian - YouTube | Poland, Germany | Outlet language(s)
Russian | Adolf Hitler’s quarters, Wolf’s Lair, was initially situated on the territory of East Prussia. After WWII, in order to avoid revival of Nazism, Stalin granted this territory to Poland. Now ungrateful descendants of “unboiled soap” plan to build a Hitler memorial site there. | There are no plans to build a Hitler memorial. This message is part of the recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about omnipresence of Nazis in Europe. As recently reported by Deutsche Welle and Smithsonian, the Wolf's Lair, one of Hitler's bunkers, is going to be reconstructed and turned into an educational site and museum. The reconstruction is part of a series of measures to refocus Wolf's Lair away from ghoulish entertainment to an educational site informing people about the fateful decisions taken there. Citing an official from the Culture Ministry, NYT reported that the aim of the restoration project and its exhibits is to "allow people to see how beliefs like Nazi ideology can warp a society." See here for more information about the reconstruction. The phrase "descendants of unboiled soap" derives from the alleged instances of soap being made from the victims of Nazi concentration camps. Referring to Poles as the "descendants of unboiled soap" is offensive and degrading. Wolf's Lair, now situated in Kętrzyn, Poland, was located on the territory of East Prussia before 1945. The territory was transferred to Poland after the Potsdam Conference. Reminding Poles that Stalin granted them the land is part of a bigger narrative to portray Stalin as a person who presented Eastern European countries with their lands. | Adolf Hitler, Europe, Nazi/Fascist |
9,962 | 07.05.2019 | NATO bombings of Yugoslavia in 1999 killed thousands | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/nato-bombings-of-yugoslavia-in-1999-killed-thousands | Sputnik Germany | Kosovo, Yugoslavia, Serbia | Outlet language(s)
German | NATO bombings of Yugoslavia in 1999 killed thousands. The necessity of the existence of NATO was explained in the post-Soviet era with the maintenance of democracy and stability in Central and Eastern Europe. In 1999 this led to bomb attacks on Yugoslavia. The military operation, which also killed peaceful civilians, lasted 78 days. Counting thousands of victims, and with destroyed infrastructure – Yugoslavia was dissolved as a state. | Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation about the number of civilian casualties of NATO bombing, debunked by Polygraph. In Serbia (excluding Kosovo) and Montenegro, 275 persons lost their lives in the NATO bombings: 180 civilians, 90 members of the Yugoslav Armed Forces, five members of the Ministry of Interior of Serbia. The primary purpose of the campaign was to end violence and repression and force Milosevic to withdraw his military, police and para-military forces from Kosovo. (See NATO statement from 1999.) Read more about disinformation about the war in former Yugoslavia here and here. | Western Balkans, Bosnia war, War crimes, NATO |
9,963 | 07.05.2019 | The EU wants to weaken the power of the Republika Srpska | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/the-eu-wants-to-weaken-the-power-of-the-republika-srpska | russian.rt.com | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Outlet language(s)
Russian | The European Commission intends to provide €1 million to involve civil society organisations in decision-making and policy-making in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The EU intends to increase funding in order to weaken the power in the Republika Srpska and support the strengthening of the role of Muslims and Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the West, they want to support financially any protest actions against Serbian President Milorad Dodik. | Conspiracy theory. The European Union does not finance anti-government rallies. The funding that will be available through the Civil society facility and media programme is aimed at strengthening cooperation and dialogue between the government and civil society in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is in fact meant to assist governments in the country to better include civil society organisations into the decision and policy-making and improve/develop their strategic documents defining cooperation with civil society and social partners (e.g. employees, employers). Read more cases about the Western Balkans. | European Union, Democracy |
9,964 | 07.05.2019 | The European Commission is one of the most undemocratic institutions | https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/european-commission-is-highly-undemocratic | RT Germany - YouTube | null | Outlet language(s)
German | The European Commission is one of the most undemocratic institutions. These people [the EU commissioners] were not elected by anyone and they are not accountable to EU citizens. | Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative on the undemocratic EU and on the failed European values. The European Commission is the EU's executive arm. Commissioners are first appointed by EU member states and then, as candidates, take part in hearings in the European Parliament. The EP members - which are elected by EU citizens directly - can reject a candidate and had exercised this power in the past. As for the President of the European Commission, his candidacy needs to be agreed by the European Council - that is, by democratically elected leaders of every member state. The European Commission as a whole is subject to a vote of consent by the Parliament and are then appointed by the European Council, acting by a qualified majority. In the whole process of appointing new EU leaders the results of the European elections have to be taken into account. See here for more information. Article 5 of the Treaty on the European Union ensured the principle of subsidiarity, which guarantees that decisions are taken as closely as possible to the citizen and that constant checks are made to verify that action at EU level is justified in light of the possibilities available at national, regional or local level. It is the principle whereby the EU does not take action (except in the areas that fall within its exclusive competence), unless it is more effective than action taken at national, regional or local level. | null |