DISINFO: Allegations of Russian role in Vrbetice explosion are part of informational preparation for new Cold war
DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS
  • Outlet: baltnews.lt (archived)*
  • Date of publication: April 24, 2021
  • Article language(s): Russian
  • Reported in: Issue 241
  • Countries / regions discussed: Russia, US, UK, Poland, Czech Republic
Tags:
GRU Russophobia Anti-Russian Diplomacy with Russia Secret services New Cold War Vrbetice explosion

DISINFO: Allegations of Russian role in Vrbetice explosion are part of informational preparation for new Cold war

SUMMARY

The expulsion of Russian diplomats from the US, the UK, Poland, and the Czech Republic, the accusation of Russian secret service of involving in the Vrbětice explosion: all of this is the informational preparation for the next level of the new Cold war.

Washington and its allies are ready to expel diplomats for any fictional reason and without explanation to society.

RESPONSE

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative which automatically dismisses any accusations against the Kremlin, no matter how well-founded, as trumped-up anti-Russian smears.

The explosion in Vrbětice happened in 2014. In April 2021, new information about this event has come to light. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis and Interior Minister Jan Hamacek announced on Saturday 17 April 2021 that the Czech intelligence services collected evidence demonstrating Russian involvement in the Vrbětice incident. More specifically, it implicates Unit 29155, a division of Russia's GRU agency previously linked to "assassination attempts and other subversive actions across Europe." Prague's findings were independently corroborated in the course of an investigation jointly conducted by Bellingcat, The Insider (Russia), Der Spiegel (Germany), and Respekt.cz (Czech Republic).

See the development of a similar narrative: Czech allegations against Russia aim to overshadow failed attempt on Lukashenka’s life; No evidence of Moscow’s involvement in 2014 Vrbetice explosion; Allegations of Russian role in Vrbetice explosion part of Russophobic smear campaign.

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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.

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