Disinfo: Belarusian opposition's white-red-white flag was the flag of Nazi collaborators

Summary

The Belarusian opposition’s white-red-white flag was the flag of the Nazi collaborators during the occupation. A certain #DejaVu. #Ukraine cannot be completely dismissed. There, @ARDMoscow calls the white-red-white flag with the Pahonya emblem an “opposition flag”. What is not mentioned by colleagues, the flag was the flag of the Nazi collaborators during the occupation.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative painting anti-government protests as Nazi and Fascist. The white and red Belarusian flag has been a symbol of Belarus’ national movement since the end of the 19th century and was the national flag of Belarus from 1991-1995. The first Belarusian national congress was held under white-red-white flags. According to Ukrainian historian, Vitaliy Skalsky, of Ukraine’s Academy of Sciences, “the Belarusian flag, just as the Ukrainian flag, came out of the Spring of Nations era of the 19th century. In 1917, with the beginning of the collapse of the Russian empire, all national movements wanted their own standards, particularly flags, or at least national colours. The new Soviet government perceived the Belarusian flag as hostile. But the Belarusian national movement adopted this flag and actively used it in territories not controlled by the Bolsheviks.” During the period of Nazi occupation (1941-1945) the white-red-white flag was allowed to be displayed alongside German flags and symbols. The Nazi occupation authorities allowed such steps to appease the Belarusian national movement and opponents of the communist regime. According to StopFake, the Belarusian national partisan movement which was anti-Nazi and anti-communist also considered this flag as its national standard, although in actual fact, the movement had no possibility to determine the flag’s official status. "The Belarusian Soviet Republic which emerged after this officially first had a red flag, later a red-green flag with an ornament on the left side. But in emigrant circles, the white-red-white flag continued to be used", writes Dekoder. In the 1995 referendum, however, a majority voted to reintroduce the flag of the Soviet Republic of Belarus with minor changes. For Alexander Lukashenko, who had been in office for just one year, the 1995 referendum was an important step toward consolidating his autocratic rule. In addition to the flag issue and the establishment of Russian as the second official language, citizens also voted for the president's right to dissolve parliament and for the desired integration with Russia. Since then the white-red-white flag has been used by the opposition, initially from the national-patriotic direction, but in time by all those who oppose Lukashenko. More about Belarusian white-red-white flag read here and here.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 208
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 18/08/2020
  • Outlet language(s) German
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Belarus
  • Keywords: Protest, Elections, Nazi/Fascist
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Disinfo: The West is preparing a colour revolution in Belarus

The West is preparing a colour revolution in Belarus.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Belarus and colour revolutions. The protests in Belarus erupted to contest the results of the presidential election in Belarus on the 9th of August, which are considered fraudulent by a large part of Belarusian society. The European Union has also stated that the elections were neither free nor fair. There is no evidence that the protests in Belarus are funded and organised externally. Pro-Kremlin media frequently use disinformation narratives about popular protests around the world allegedly incited and funded by the US and other Western states, including colour revolutions in post-Soviet states, the “Arab Spring” revolts, Euromaidan in Ukraine, protests in Catalonia and others. This narrative claims that protests, disorders and civil uprisings are never manifestations of popular discontent but are “colour revolutions” directed and funded by the West. See similar cases claiming that the protests in Belarus are a colour revolution conducted according to a Maidan scenario and that the West wants to prepare Maidan in Belarus.

Disinfo: Thousands of foreign militants assist pro-Poland opposition in Belarus

It is clear that Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s warnings about foreign militants were not empty words. A few thousand militants from Poland, Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic states, many times more than Lukashenka thought, apparently came to Belarus. Many Russian media along with Ukrainian and opposition Belarusian media support militants just as tasked by the Western curators. Some people saw that unknown people were paying citizens for participation in unrest. The heads of Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia as puppet states advocate for the plan on how to resolve Belarus’s crisis, which does not correspond to the national interests of the Belarusian people. Petro Poroshenko, who seized power in Ukraine after a coup and organised a civil war, calls upon Lukashenka to negotiate with the organisers of unrest. The situation is developing in lines with the Ukrainian scenario, including the destruction of the Union State and the creation of an anti-Russian alliance. Simultaneously the West organises protest actions in Russia. Anglo-Saxons have 300-years-long colonial experience. They know how to bribe local authorities, to manipulate public opinion, to organise unrest, etc. Belarusian opposition can lead the people to colonial dependence, a collapse of the national economy, and impoverishment of the population. The pro-Poland political grouping wants to establish an EU- and US-supported anti-Russian dictatorship and terror just as in Ukraine.

Disproof

This is a mixture of recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about Western attempts to stage a colour revolution in Belarus, West's and Anglo-Saxons' aggressive actions towards Belarus and Russia, Poland and the Baltic countries as puppet states, and a coup d'etat in Ukraine in 2014. It also seriously misinterprets intentions of the Belarusian opposition and puts forward fake allegations about thousands of foreign militants in Belarus. There is absolutely no proof of any Western or Ukrainian involvement and presence of 'militants' either among Belarusian or foreign citizens in the widespread protests in Belarus. Hundreds of thousands of Belarusians have been protesting against a massive vote-rigging and police violence since 9 August 2020. On 16 August 2020 Belarus witnessed the largest rallies in the city of Minsk and dozens smaller towns and localities in its history. Neither Belarusian, Ukrainian or Russian media are subservient to 'Western curators' as alleged. The claim about payments to protesters is also groundless and not supported by any evidence. Poland, the Baltic states, and Ukraine have not supported any 'plan' for Belarus as alleged. On 11 August foreign ministers of Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine issued a joint statement urging Belarus's authorities not to use force and release detained protesters, and to engage in dialogue with alternative civil and political actors. On 12 August the parliaments of the three Baltic states and Poland called on the Belarusian authorities to end the use of force and persecution and to initiate a genuine social dialogue. On 19 August 2020 the European Council called Belarus's elections neither free nor fair, condemned the violence against peaceful protesters, called for a complete and transparent investigation into all alleged abuses, and announced its decision to impose sanctions on a substantial number of individuals responsible for violence, repression, and election fraud. The opposition forces, including the Coordinating Council initiated by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, are not pro-Polish and did not call for any anti-Russian actions as alleged. The geopolitical issues are not on the protests' agenda at all. Poland and the Baltic states are sovereign countries, which shape their own foreign and domestic policies. See earlier disinformation cases alleging that Russia has neutralised many Western attempts to topple the Belarusian government. the West pursues Maidan policy towards Belarus to encircle Russia, the US wishes to destabilise Belarus and provoke a war, Polish ruling elites dream of military intervention, and that NATO pays the Belarusian opposition $1 per one person infected with the coronavirus.

Disinfo: EU is showcasing hypocrisy in its handling of Belarus

When will Macron ask the European Union to stand by the hundreds of thousands of yellow vest protesters who seek by means of peaceful demonstrations to have their rights, freedoms and sovereignty respected? When will the European Union […] start acting […] to support protests in its own backyard? This is the definition of hypocrisy.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation message aimed at undermining European values and justifying violence against protesters in Belarus. The message uses disinformation technique of "whataboutism" allegedly exposing the ills of the West. The situations in France and Belarus are not comparable, France is a democracy where Yellow Vests presented their candidates' list for the European Parliament elections in 2019. According to Freedom House, the French political system features vibrant democratic processes and generally strong protections for civil liberties and political rights. The EU has urged the Belarusian authorities to stop the disproportionate and unacceptable violence against peaceful protesters and does not recognize the results of presidential election as process did not meet the international standards expected of a participating state of the OSCE. More cases about Belarus can be read at the following links: Russia has neutralised many Western attempts to topple the Belarusian government, The EU continues to support a colour revolution in Belarus, The US wishes to destabilise Belarus and provoke a war, Polish ruling elites dream of military intervention, The West is helping to destabilise the situation in Belarus before the election, Belarus will either become part of Russia or the West’s poor colony, NATO pays the Belarusian opposition $1 per one person infected with the coronavirus. See related disinformation cases about the Yellow Vest protests in France here.