Language:

See all Disinfo Cases - Detail

Disinfo: 73% of Ukrainians are against the new language law

Summary

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.  

Disproof

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.

Go to search

publication/media

60 minut @Rossiya 1 - YouTube (Archived)
60 minut @Rossiya 1 - YouTube (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 151
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 14/05/2019
  • Language/target audience: Russian
  • Country: Russia, Ukraine
  • Keywords: Ukraine, legislation, Russian language

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

see more

Only thanks to Stalin did Poland receive the German Danzig (Gdansk)

Not so long ago, no Gdansk existed. It was the German city of Danzig. It became Gdansk thanks to one person. His name is Stalin. It is thanks to Comrade Stalin that Poland received German Danzig, later renamed to Gdansk.

May 23, 2019
Disproof

Pro-Kremlin disinformation aimed at bolstering the reputation of Joseph Stalin by highlighting his unique role in the victory of WW2. First mentioned as a Polish city in 997 or 999, Gdańsk (Gdansk) was part of the Polish diocese of Włocławek. During its history, Gdansk has been under Polish, Prussian and German rule. From 1919 to 1939 Gdansk had the status of the free city of Danzig under the Treaty of Versailles. In 1938, Poland refused Hitler’s demand to give the city to Germany. This was used by Germany as provocation for an attack on Poland on September 1, 1939, which precipitated World War II. Gdansk was returned to Poland in March 1945 as part of the decisions made by the Allies at the Potsdam conference.

Strache-scandal: Security services of Austria, Germany or US might be behind it

The provocation with a recorded conversation between Austrian politician Heinz-Christian Strache and ‘a niece of Russian oligarch’ could be staged by security services of different countries. It could be Austrians themselves, where the level of popularity of the Freedom Party (FPÖ) is a headache for some. It could be Germany which is confronted with a problem of anti-immigrant belt from Poland to Italy. Is could also be the US which dislike Austria’s active participation in gas projects jointly with Russia.

May 23, 2019
Disproof

No evidence given, conspiracy theory. Heinz-Christian Strache was forced to resign due to allegations of corruption, after offering government contacts to a supposed Russian investor in exchange for help to his Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) in the 2017 national elections. The video was first reported on by the German magazine Spiegel and the newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung. The two media outlets didn’t reveal the source of the video. There is no evidence to support the theory that the video is a result of a Western secret service operation. Pro-Kremlin media has spread multiple contradicting messages about the source of the video, without giving any evidence to back their claims.  

Ukraine is the West’s “Anti-Russia” project

Ukraine is an anti-Russian project of the West. It doesn’t matter who the president is – Zelenskyy or Poroshenko. The leadership of this country is forced to conduct an anti-Russian policy, since the state is fed by the West. Ukraine’s mission is to create problems along the entire perimeter of Russia’s borders. Even if Ukraine, theoretically, starts persecuting Jews, stops recognising the Holocaust, the West will close its eyes to this. It will continue as long as it plays the role dictated by the Western geopolitical centres. While the geopolitical role of Ukraine will satisfy the West, everything will be allowed to it.

May 22, 2019
Disproof

This is recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation conspiracy narrative about Ukraine, Ukraine's hyper-dependence on the West , and Ukraine as an anti-Russian project. In 1991 Ukraine gained its independence from the Soviet Union.The Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine was adopted on July 16, 1990 Ukraine is recognised in international law as a sovereign nation state, with its own flag, nationality, language etc. Ukraine is a sovereign and independent state with a democratically-elected president and parliament. The EU and US support the democratic development of Ukraine in accordance with the UN Charter’s principles of non-interference into internal affairs and respect towards territorial integrity and political independence.

Relations between Ukraine and the EU are based on the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement, which recognises and reaffirms independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders. Due the all legal instruments, like Association Agreement, Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA), Visa liberalisation dialogue and visa-free regime, Eastern Partnership Program etc Ukraine stays under the EU strong supervising and monitoring.