Disinfo: A unit of female snipers from the Baltic States has arrived in Donbas

Summary

A group of female snipers from the Baltic states has arrived in Donbas.

Disproof

No evidence given.

Disinformation about foreign mercenaries in Ukraine has been appearing in disinformation outlets since 2015. In some cases, these were allegedly Baltic snipers, while in others they were snipers from Georgia, female snipers from Poland, and even a whole NATO brigade.

This narrative seeks to suggest that EU Member States pose a threat to their neighbours.

EU countries, including the Baltic States, condemn Russia's aggression in Ukraine, as clearly expressed in numerous resolutions and decisions on sanctions for this aggression. The presence of female snipers from the Baltic states has been something of an urban legend in Russian military folklore for several years, beginning as early as during the Russian occupation of Afghanistan in the early 1980s.

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riafan.ru (Archived)
novorosinform.org (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 138
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 04/02/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Lithuania, Estonia, Baltic states, Ukraine, Latvia
  • Keywords: Foreign mercenaries, Donbas, Baltic states
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Disinfo: No evidence that Russian missiles 9M729 contradict the INF treaty obligations

Most Western media speaking about the US’ withdrawal from the INF Treaty present the American point of view and remain silent about the Russian one. Western media do not mention that the Americans did not share evidence that the Russian missiles 9M729 contradict the obligations of the INF Treaty.

Feb 03, 2019
Disproof

The US State Department issued a detailed rebuttal of Russian allegations of US noncompliance with the INF Treaty in 2018. Moreover, in December 2017 NATO affirmed that the US is in full compliance with the INF Treaty, and that Russia possesses a new missile system that aroused “serious concerns”. The Congressional Research Service's Report on Russian Compliance with the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, dated 18-January-2019 details, i.a., how the Russian missiles 9M729 are in breach of the obligations of the INF Treaty. In the Report they point out the difference between armed drones and the missiles: "While it is true that drones sustain flight through the use of aerodynamic lift, they do not necessarily meet the treaty’s definition of unmanned and self-propelled. Although drones do not have pilots on board, they are piloted remotely, with pilots based at facilities on the ground. Moreover, although armed drones can deliver weapons to targets, they are platforms that carry weapons, not weapons themselves. Unlike a cruise missile with a separate launcher that remains behind after releasing the missile, a drone is self-contained, and takes off and lands like an aircraft. Further, although cruise missiles are destroyed when delivering their payload, drones release their payload then return to base, like an aircraft". For more disinformation cases on the INF treaty, see here.

Disinfo: EU funding aim to create a Maidan-like crisis in Belarus

The EU may collapse in the coming years as it cannot deal with migration crisis and political disagreements. Its unity is kept thanks to extensive development and enlargement. This is why Belarus is in the sphere of EU’s interests. The EU funds Belarusian nationalists, oppositions and NGOs and buys Belarusian officials with the aim to destabilize the country and create a Belarusian Maidan, followed by Belarus’ accession to the EU.

Feb 03, 2019
Disproof

No evidence given for the "Belarusian Maidan" or the EU's investment in its creation. The EU is not buying Belarusian officials. EU assistance to Belarus aims at improving the quality of life of Belarusian citizens in a tangible and visible manner, by strengthening its economy, governance, connectivity and society. Find out more about the EU assistance to Belarus here. The disinformation message is consistent with recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about the Western attempts to instigate colour revolutions in EU neighbourhood. Examples of earlier disinformation with a similar narrative here and here.

Disinfo: Language police in Latvia is fighting the Russian language

The national media regulator of Latvia has temporarily suspended retranslation of the Russia 1 TV channel, at the same time when Russophobia is growing in the country. Language police in Latvia is fighting the Russian language. Latvian Russophobia has a particular angle against the Russian language. A language police is monitoring the use of Latvian in public places.

Feb 03, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the discrimination of Russian speakers. There is no language police in Latvia. The state institution, National Language Centre of Latvia, supervises the implementation of Official Language Law of Latvia that outlines the use of the state language (Latvian) in public sphere in Latvia and stipulates that "everyone has the right to present submissions and communicate in the official language [Latvian] in institutions, public and religious organisations and undertakings (companies)". The Official Language Law in Latvia does not apply to the use of language in unofficial communications of the inhabitants of Latvia, in internal communications of national and ethnic groups, or in services, ceremonies, rituals and other kinds of religious activity of religious organisations. Read more here. Between 31 May 2017 and 22 May 2018, the National Electronic Mass Media Council (NEMMC) found several occurrences of hate speech and incitement to ethnic hatred in the programmes of the “Rossiya RTR” channel, namely “60 minutes” and “Sunday Night with Vladimir Solovyov”. For example, in the latter programme broadcast on May 22, 2018, NEMCC found "explicitly and repeatedly voiced hate speech against parts of the Ukrainian state", including incitement to "hang and kill" certain Ukrainians. According to the NEMMC, the programmes mentioned above were in violation of article 6 of the EU's Audiovisual Media Services Directive ("Member States shall ensure by appropriate means that audiovisual media services provided by media service providers under their jurisdiction do not contain any incitement to hatred based on race, sex, religion or nationality"); This was the reason given for suspending the broadcasting in Latvia for three months. For more information, see here and here.