Disinfo: Belarusian protests are managed from the US, Poland, Lithuania, and Czechia

Summary

The US has lately intensified pressure on foreign governments and is actively using manipulations and new technologies in communications and information. It is proven by the analysis of how Belarusian protests are governed from Warsaw, Lithuania, and Czechia. Although they are located in the EU’s shadow, the US is implicated in this process.

Disproof

This publication promotes recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about Belarus protests as being organised and controlled from abroad and as West's attempt to organise a colour revolution. There is no evidence that the US, Lithuania, Poland, Czechia, or any other Western governments are involved in any way in the protests in Belarus. Large-scale protests began in Minsk on August 9 against the results of the presidential election, and then in other cities. People revolted against election fraud and police violence towards thousands of rally participants. According to statistical data and independent observers, the official result of the presidential election was itself heavily doctored. A joint monitoring effort by three NGOs demonstrates the scale of falsification based on election protocols from 1,310 polling stations across Belarus and concludes that the announced result (80% of votes cast for Lukashenka) is mathematically "impossible" (p. 7). An analysis by the Novaya Gazeta newspaper shows that excluding "anomalous" voting districts from the official tally would see Lukashenka's percentage drop to 43%, and Tsikhanouskaya's surge to 45%, in which case a second round would have to be called. “We are extremely alarmed at the hundreds of allegations of torture and other ill-treatment in police custody,” UN human rights experts said, citing reports of 450 documented cases. The European Council condemned, on 19 August 2020, the violence against peaceful protesters and announced that it would soon adopt a list of sanctions for those responsible for violence in Belarus. "As the elections in Belarus were neither free nor fair, and did not meet international standards, the EU does not recognize the results presented by the Belarus authorities," is mentioned in a European Council press release. See earlier disinformation cases claiming that the West is preparing "colourful revolution" in Belarus, that the West's only interest in Belarus is to make it anti-Russian, and that Belarus moves towards complete colonization by the West.

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sputnik.by (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 211
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 26/08/2020
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: EU, Czech Republic, Poland, US, Belarus, Lithuania
  • Keywords: West, European Union, Protest, US presence in Europe, Colour revolutions
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Disinfo: The scheme of the colour revolution in Belarus is revealed

The scheme of control over the ‘colour revolution’ in Belarus has been revealed. The Octagon media has published material about who is actually behind the colour revolution in Belarus. According to them, it is managed from abroad. The main player is the USA. However, they do not interfere directly, preferring to act through their European allies. Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Ukraine are the most active players.

Aug 25, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about colour revolutions. Protests in Belarus erupted after thousands of people took to the streets to contest the results of the presidential election that are considered fraudulent by a large part of society. The European Union has said that the elections were neither free nor fair: "State authorities deployed disproportionate and unacceptable violence causing at least one death and many injuries. Thousands of people were detained and the crackdown on freedoms of assembly, media and expression intensified. We call on the Belarusian authorities to release immediately and unconditionally all detained. Furthermore, credible reports of domestic observers show that the electoral process did not meet the international standards expected of an OSCE participating State." See previous disinformation cases alleging that the EU continues to support a colour revolution in Belarus; the EU provoked a civil war in Ukraine, now it destabilises Belarus; Belarusian opposition wants to turn Belarus into the 51st state of the US.

Disinfo: US hybrid war on Belarus allows Russia to "pull a Crimea" in the former Soviet Republic

The US Hybrid War on Belarus is at risk of backfiring after the ongoing Colour Revolution has thus far failed to depose Lukashenko amid his dangerous saber-rattling with NATO created the opportunity for Russia to “pull a Crimea” in the former Soviet Republic.

Aug 25, 2020
Disproof

This is part of an ongoing Russian disinformation campaign on Belarus based on recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives, such as accusing other countries of interference and portraying popular protests against electoral fraud in the country as a Western-led colour revolution. No evidence is provided to support any of the claims. 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. On 19 August 2020 the European Council called Belarus's elections neither free nor fair. See other examples of pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives in Belarus, such as claims that the EU reaction to Lukashenko’s victory is an example of Western double standards; that the same lack of democracy and repression is present in EU countries that criticise Minsk; that the arrest of Russian mercenaries in Belarus was a Ukrainian provocation, and the Ukrainian secret services may have planned terrorist attacks in Belarusian territory; that the West wants to prepare another Maidan in the country; or that Belarusians, Ukrainians and Russians are one single nation. The illegal annexation of Crimea was a violation of international law.

Disinfo: In every country where the Anglo-Saxons act, civil wars are organised

The hybrid wars that are going on around the world today are more effective, even without the use of traditional military forces. In fact, in every country against which the Anglo-Saxons act, civil wars are organised. And we see it perfectly. And these civil wars cause much more damage than if hostilities were organised in a traditional way.

Aug 25, 2020
Disproof

This is a conspiracy theory aimed at discrediting the West and the so-called Anglo-Saxons. In the pro-Kremlin media, the term “Anglo-Saxons” means “evil”, “belligerent” and “morally corrupt” Westerners, as explained in our earlier analysis. Тhe disinformation message appeared in the context of media reports that Britain could give up old tanks as part of modernisations plans. The article does not provide any evidence to support the claim about organised civil wars. This disinformation message is consistent with the recurring Shadow Government narrative, which pro-Kremlin disinformation sources often deploy as a rhetorical device to undermine the West and the international liberal-democratic institutional order. For example, see earlier disinformation cases alleging that Western leaders are merely marionettes of the shadow rulers and that the Anglo-Saxons rule America “from abroad” and are now trying to control Russia, that Anglo-Saxon countries transformed Ukraine into an anti-Russian nation, that Anglo-Saxons played an important role in the internal Armenian processes of 2018, or that Latvia is under the rule of Anglo-Saxons while Germany is still a vassal to the Anglo-Saxons.