Disinfo: After the Maidan, Crimea was supposed to become a NATO or US naval base

Summary

Americans had stirred up the colour revolution in Ukraine. After the victory of the Maidan, Crimea was supposed to become either a NATO or an American naval base.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Euromaidan and encircled Russia.

Euromaidan was a result of the Ukrainian people's frustration with former President Yanukovych’s sudden departure from the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. More cases on this topic here.

The alleged encroachments of NATO countries on the Ukrainian peninsula are among the most common disinformation narratives, to justify the illegal annexation of Crimea.

The NATO expansion is also a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative. NATO does not "expand" in the imperialistic sense described by the Kremlin leadership and Russian state media, but instead considers the applications of candidate countries that want to join the defensive alliance of their own national will. NATO enlargement is not directed against Russia.

The claim that NATO was planning to base ships and missiles in Crimea is fiction. The idea has never been proposed, suggested or discussed within NATO. In the Statement by the North Atlantic Council on Crimea on 18 March 2019, NATO condemned Russia's ongoing and wide-ranging military build-up in Crimea, and expressed concern by Russia's efforts and stated plans for a further military build-up in the Black Sea region.

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ru.armeniasputnik.am (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 162
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 24/08/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: US, Ukraine
  • Keywords: Encircling Russia, Crimea, Euromaidan, NATO
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Disinfo: US emissaries attempt to influence Russian policies through the oligarchy

America should be hit with her own “weapons”: there should be an investigation about Washington’s involvement in Russian elections. It should start with the establishment of a special commission that would be tasked with studying and collecting facts on influence operations, performed by US Special Forces and State Agencies on Russian electoral processes. American emissaries attempt to influence Russian internal policies through the oligarchy.

Aug 23, 2019
Disproof

An unfounded conspiracy theory on foreign influence on Russian politics, and US and/or other actors standing behind any expressions of popular discontent. Similar cases can be found here and here.

Disinfo: Polish nationalists are trying to refute evidence on Poland's role in unleashing the Second World War

Polish nationalists and their supporters across the world are trying to refute not even the Soviet or Russian, but the British evidence about Poland’s behavior and role in unleashing the Second World War.

Aug 23, 2019
Disproof

A recurring disinformation narrative revising the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. It is true that several European powers, including Poland, signed non-aggression treaties with Germany in the 30s, but none of these treaties were as far-reaching as the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, clearly dividing independent countries in Europe into "Spheres of interests". Similar cases of disinformation can be found here.

Disinfo: By accusing Russia for violation of treaty, the US had a sole purpose to cover up the work carried out in violation of the INF Treaty

The sole purpose of the United States was to cover up the work carried out in violation of the INF Treaty. The initial intention – to get out of it. The US launched a propaganda campaign about Russia’s non-compliance with the treaty. Moscow previously had information about the US development of weapons prohibited by the treaty.

Aug 23, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the INF Treaty. Russia bears primary responsibility for the end of the INF Treaty, because it has produced, tested and deployed the 9M729 missile, which violates the agreement. In July 2014, the then-US President Obama officially accused Russia of testing a missile in violation of the INF Treaty, which prohibits the US or Russia from possessing, producing or test-flying ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with a range of between 500 and 5500 kilometres. In a joint statement released after the meeting held at NATO Headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 December 2018, NATO Foreign Ministers stated that the United States has remained in full compliance with its obligations under the INF Treaty since it entered into force and that Russia has developed and fielded a missile system, the 9M729, which violates the INF Treaty and poses significant risks to Euro-Atlantic security." US and NATO have repeatedly engaged with Russia to preserve the INF treaty. For background on pro-Kremlin myths on the INF Treaty see here.