Diese Woche gedachten wir wieder eines tragischen Verlusts: 298 Menschen starben am 17. Juli 2014 beim Abschuss von Flug MH17 der Malaysia Arlines über der Ostukraine. Weil die Desinformationskampagne zum dieses Thema das ausführlichste und beständigste von allen ist, haben wir schon oft über diese Tragödie berichtet.
Es überrascht daher nicht, dass es diese Woche einen weiteren offensichtlichen Versuch gab, Verwirrung zu stiften; die Meldung, dass der Flug nicht von einer russischen BUK-Rakete abgeschossen wurde—wie das gemeinsame Ermittlerteam (Joint Investigation Team, JIT) aus den Beweisen schloss—sondern, dass das Flugzeug von einer Explosion innerhalb der Maschine zerstört wurde. Diese und weitere Verschwörungstheorien sind von Bellingcat widerlegt worden, mit dem einfachen Hinweis auf die frei verfügbaren und öffentlich zugänglichen Beweise.
Doch das Hauptgericht der Desinformationen diese Woche bestand aus einer Mischung einiger kremlfreundlicher Lieblingszutaten: Geschichtsrevisionismus, die NATO, Nazis und die baltischen Staaten. Alles begann mit einem weiteren Gedenktag, nämlich der von der NATO produzierte Film über die sogenannten „Waldkämpfer“, einer Widerstandsbewegung gegen die sowjetische Besatzung der baltischen Staaten.
Über diese Desinformation werden wir im Detail auf unserer Webseite berichten. Hier wollen wir nur sagen, dass es kremlfreundliche Medien hinbekommen haben, diese Geschichte in Behauptungen umzuwandeln, dass die NATO Nazi-Kollaborateure verherrliche—siehe zum Beispiel auf RT und auf Sputnik.
Dies war nicht das einzige Mal diese Woche, dass NATO-Aktivitäten mit Naziverhalten gleichgestellt wurden. Zum Beispiel wurde die NATO Enhanced Forward Presence in den baltischen Staaten und speziell das unter deutscher Führung stehende Bataillon in Litauen gesagt mit der Operation Barbarossa verglichen.
Ein NATO-Mitglied, welches andere Staaten zu gemeinsamen Übungen einlädt, um die kollektive Verteidigung der NATO zu verstärken, ist also mit einer feindlichen Invasion des nationalsozialistischen Regimes vergleichbar. Lesen Sie diesen Satz bitte noch einmal.
Die NATO wurde von Sputnik für den Konflikt zwischen Moskau und Kiew verantwortlich gemacht, eine Behauptung, bei der eindeutig vergessen wird, dass es in Wirklichkeit Russland war, nicht die NATO, das 2014 illegal einen Teil der Ukraine annektiert hat.
Science Fiction in der Ukraine
Wie üblich ist die Ukraine ein häufig wiederkehrendes Ziel kremlfreundlicher Desinformationen. Einige erstaunliche Anschuldigungen verbreitete der hauseigene Fernsehsender des russischen Verteidigungsministeriums. Während der letzten Jahre haben wir einige wirklich ungeheuerliche Behauptungen bezüglich der Ukraine gehört, vom Lächerlichen—wie zum Beispiel, dass in den Reihen der ukrainische Armee Zombies kämpfen —bis zum gänzlich Beleidigenden—am berüchtigtsten davon die falsche Behauptung, ukrainische Streitkräfte hätten einen drei Jahre alten Jungen in der Ostukraine gekreuzigt.
Ein Echo dieser Geschichte sah man diese Woche in der Behauptung, eine Gruppe ukrainischer Soldaten der 57. motorisierten Infanteriebrigade habe ein heidnische Ritual gefeiert und einen örtlichen Anwohner einer slawischen Gottheit geopfert. Diese Falschinformation wurde in verschiedenen Medien wiederholt und auf einer Webseite mit einem Foto eines Soldaten illustriert, der eine Hand isst, illustriert. Das Foto, welches in der Vergangenheit von kremlfreundlichen Desinformationsartikeln benutzt wurde, stammt ursprünglich aus dem russischen Science-Fiction-Film „Wir sind aus der Zukunft“ aus dem Jahr 2008.
Die Behauptung, ukrainische Soldaten würden einer slawischen Gottheit einen Menschen opfern, wurde von diesem Bild begleitet: ein Foto hinter den Kulissen des Science-Fiction-Films „Wir sind aus der Zukunft“ aus dem Jahr 2008.
Die komplette Tabelle der neuesten Berichte mit Falschmeldungen lesen (auf Englisch)
No evidence given, the same disinformation repeated as above. The website illustrated the article with a photo of a soldier eating a hand. It is an old photo that has been used before in pro-Kremlin disinformation claiming that there is a Ukrainian soldier eating a hand of a Russian. In fact the photo originates in filming of a Russian 2008 science-fiction movie: “We’re from the Future”, as Stopfake found out in 2014: http://bit.ly/1lpewy0
Anti-semitic conspiracy theory, no evidence given.
No evidence given. Disinformation about George Soros is recurring in pro-Kremlin outlets http://bit.ly/2p0xjU2.
No evidence given. Sea Breeze 2017 is an annual recurring multinational exercise, it does not aim to invade any territory http://bit.ly/2tgOQhY. Disinformation about NATO excersises has been a recurring theme during the course of 2017 http://bit.ly/2qi4cA4, http://bit.ly/2tifSFs.
The spontaneous onset of the Euromaidan protests was a reaction of large parts of the Ukrainian population to the Yanukovych government’s sudden departure from the Association Agreement with the European Union in November 2013. There were several protests at the G20 summit that were legal and peaceful. The were some protests that were violent and therefor illegal.// In Hamburg, it was the violent protestors that were met with police action. In Moscow, the demonstrators were not violent, but were still met with police violence and detentions http://bit.ly/2rmgnsw, http://bit.ly/2uZKvNs. According to the constitution, citizens of the Russian Federation shall have the right to assemble peacefully, without weapons, hold rallies, mass meetings and demonstrations, marches and pickets http://bit.ly/2umCggt, but the opposition usually doesn't get authorisation for their demonstrations.
No evidence given. The government programme "Aktiv gegen Rechtsextremismus, Gewalt und Menschenfeindlichkeit“ actually also seeks to prevent radicalisation of left militants http://bit.ly/29ufrx6. The Bavarian security service doesn't mention the "Eine Welt Haus" in Munich as part of the left radical scene http://bit.ly/2taRVA3. "Eine Welt Haus" says they promote "living together in peace and solidarity between peoples of all cultures" and their website doesn't contain any anti-Capitalist rhetoric.
According to the Lviv City Hall press office, the monument is not slated to be dismantled, all the more so because it is a monument symbolizing the struggle against Nazi occupation. The monument has been fenced off because it is in poor condition and granite plates are falling off the main plinth. The Lviv City Council has called for a committee of specialists to make recommendations within three weeks as to what should be done with the monument. Further debunking: http://bit.ly/2uhyhC3
No evidence given. The Eastern Partnership (EaP) is a joint initiative involving the EU, its member states and 6 eastern European partners: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. It is based on a commitment to the principles of international law and fundamental values - democracy, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms. It also encompasses support for a market economy, sustainable development and good governance http://bit.ly/2taFO68. What damages the Ukrainian economy most is the conflict in the east of the country http://bit.ly/1GGxA5M. So too does the corruption inherited from the past http://bit.ly/2dbivRx, http://bit.ly/2ext9zv, on which the EU is working actively with the government of Ukraine (and progress in reforming the police, as well as the first tangible results of the work of the National anti-corruption office (NABU), show that progress is now being made against). Belarus is a voluntary partner in the EaP; its sovereignty is in no way undermined.
There are numerous accounts from previous employees at RT, claiming that in fact RT does get regular instructions (usually on Fridays) from the Kremlin on what to cover and what not to cover http://bit.ly/2qHGPgY. See also http://bit.ly/2uh36Hj, http://bit.ly/2tQvRtj, http://bit.ly/2tTjRW4.
A survey of all Ofcom broadcast bulletins from January 2014 to July 2017 showed that RT had had ten programs found guilty of violating the rules on accuracy, impartiality, and “materially misleading” audiences, in four different bulletins (November 2014, September 2015, July 2016, December 2016). Only one broadcaster had more programs found in violation of the code over the same period. http://bit.ly/2sYenID
No evidence given. The Foreign Ministry for Finland denies the claims of meddling in illegal arms exports. http://bit.ly/2urmt0G
In 1999, the NATO operation for Kosovo followed over a year of intense efforts by the UN and the Contact Group (the U.S, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Russia), to bring about a peaceful solution. The UN Security Council on several occasions branded the ethnic cleansing in Kosovo and the mounting number of refugees driven from their homes as a threat to international peace and security. NATO's Operation Allied Force was launched to prevent the large-scale and sustained violations of human rights and the killing of civilians: http://bit.ly/2a0UmfI. Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia in February 2008 was in accordance with international law, the international court of justice (ICJ) has found http://bit.ly/1RVCmRg.
No evidence given. Repeating already debunked disinformation about secret laboratories with deadly viruses http://bit.ly/2taPuh2.
Ukraine will continue to pay the pension or social allowances to everybody entitled to receive them http://bit.ly/2uZMx00. The amount of the payments and the retirement age will depend on the employment years. Further debunking by Stopfake: http://bit.ly/2uhnJD1
The Baltic states joined the EU and NATO based on independent foreign policy decisions. The process of state-building in Ukraine has all signs of a democratic process. The sanctions against Russia are a retaliatory measure, as it is a reaction to Russian aggression against Ukraine.http://bit.ly/2tmK7GA.
The article compares statistics from 1996 and 2016, although the figures are not commensurate. Further debunking by Stopfake: http://bit.ly/2tmW7Il
A different version of the disinformation above. No evidence given. The Foreign Ministry for Finland denies the claims of meddling in illegal arms export. http://bit.ly/2urmt0G
According to a poll by the Gorshenin Institute and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung office in Kyiv http://bit.ly/2taM0es, only 5 % of the respondents identify themselves as citizens of the ex-USSR. Of those respondents who defined themselves as being of Russian nationality, 24,8 % identify themselves as citizens of ex-USSR. Further debunking: http://bit.ly/2tR8hwz
No evidence given. Forest Brothers were Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian partisans who fought against Soviet rule during the Soviet invasion and occupation during and after the World War II. In the early 1950's, the Soviet forces had eradicated most of the partisan resistance in the Baltic States. Soviet authorities offered Forest Brothers an amnesty after Joseph Stalin's death in 1953. Further reading on the Forest Brothers: http://bit.ly/2vC2qZW, http://bit.ly/2tGyRVI
No evidence given. The Czech MoI is repressing neither people nor opinions http://bit.ly/2kboybB. The NGO People in Need has made a study that provides a definition of hate speech, but it highlights that sometimes it can be quite narrow and that context and the interpretation framework must be taken into account when studying hate speech.http://bit.ly/1MD9VqL
No evidence given. Nato video exists http://bit.ly/2tm5Jmr, but Forest Brothers were Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian partisans who fought against Soviet rule during the Soviet invasion and occupation during and after the World War II. In the early 1950's, the Soviet forces had eradicated most of the partisan resistance in the Baltic States. Soviet authorities offered Forest Brothers an amnesty after Joseph Stalin's death in 1953. Further reading on the Forest Brothers: http://bit.ly/2vC2qZW, http://bit.ly/2tGyRVI
No evidence given. Nato video exists http://bit.ly/2tm5Jmr, but Forest Brothers were Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian partisans who fought against Soviet rule during the Soviet invasion and occupation during and after the World War II. In the early 1950's, the Soviet forces had eradicated most of the partisan resistance in the Baltic States. Soviet authorities offered Forest Brothers an amnesty after Joseph Stalin's death in 1953. Further reading on the Forest Brothers: http://bit.ly/2vC2qZW, http://bit.ly/2tGyRVI
No evidence given. It is not NATO that has created the existing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, it started by Russia illegaly annexing the Ukranian peninsula Crimea http://bit.ly/2tlA8lj. 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 https://www.icc-cpi.int/iccdocs/otp/161114-otp-rep-PE_ENG.pdf.
No evidence given. The Enhanced Forward Presence is a component of NATO’s strengthened deterrence and defence posture through military presence in the eastern and south-eastern parts of Alliance territory http://bit.ly/2fZjTZ6. Disinformation about NATO excersises has been a recurring theme during the course of 2017 http://bit.ly/2qi4cA4, http://bit.ly/2tifSFs.
No evidence given. Nothing similar has so far happened to any member state of the European Union.
No evidence given. President Tusk stated that this summit is a good moment to celebrate the strong and deepening friendship between the European Union and Ukraine.The EU has finalised the ratification of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. It will enter into force on the 1st of September. The provisional application of the trade part that entered into force last year has already increased trade by 25%. The fully ratified Agreement will allow to further strengthen cooperation and to deepen political association and economic integration. One month ago Ukrainian citizens were given the opportunity for the first time to travel to the European Union without a visa. http://bit.ly/2t7nruK
Polish translation of the RIA Novosti article.
Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and backing of the separatists and their self-proclaimed authorities in eastern Ukraine mean that Russia's role in ending the war in Ukraine is crucial. The Minsk agreements, which aim to bring to an end the conflict in the East of Ukraine, were agreed during meetings including President Vladimir Putin. They were signed by the Russian Ambassador to Ukraine, Mikhail Zurabov. The measures depend to a large part on the Russia-backed separatists, including the need for a ceasefire, the withdrawal of all heavy weaponry, full monitoring access for the OSCE, and the full restoration of control of the state border to the Ukrainian government.
No evidence given. President Putin's plane has flown over eastern NATO states on a number of recent occasions. It was not clear why this time his jet took a longer route, which also avoided crossing the Baltic states - which, like Poland, are members of NATO and the European Union. There is no logical explanation or evidence to the claim that the flight would have been threatened by any NATO or EU member. http://reut.rs/2vwqyNp
Lithuania is a member of the European Union and NATO just like Poland, and Lithuania and Poland are allies.
No evidence given. Same disinformation was repeated by other outlets http://bit.ly/2taSo0Y, http://bit.ly/2taKLI1.
Estonia is a parliamentary democracy. The procedure for the election of the President of the Republic is provided in §§ 79-80 of the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia and it is specified in the President of the Republic Election Act. The parliament or an electoral body elects the President and the process is fully transparent http://bit.ly/2txnFKV, http://bit.ly/2t7ttLY. Estonia is enjoying a stable democracy, ranking high on international democracy rankings http://bit.ly/2uraArf, http://bit.ly/2jzYYsq.
No evidence given, yet another conspiracy theory, coinsiding with the third anniversary of this tragedy. The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has concluded that the plane was shot down by a BUK missile located in an area controlled by the Russia-supported rebels. The missile launcher was transported from Russia into Ukraine and back again into Russia. http://bit.ly/2vtlLMI
This is misleading. The Ambassador did not propose a Yugoslavian scenario. In an interview with the Ukrainian weekly Fokus, he expressed the view that the Minsk and Normandy formats dealing with the conflict in Donbas are not working and other solutions should be considered; and pointed out that the war in Yugoslavia only ended with the intervention of both NATO and the US. However, the inclusion of NATO in the Donbas conflict resolution could lead to an even greater confrontation, Piekło says and points out that without the US, it will be very difficult to achieve peace in Donbas. http://bit.ly/2tx1g0j Further debunking: http://bit.ly/2txfFK1
