Disinfo: Bill Gates was involved in the artificial creation of the Zika epidemic in order to reduce the world’s population

Summary

Bill Gates’s activities are connected to Malthusianism, an ideology that seeks to reduce the world’s population. He has been involved in experimental biotechnology programs, including the artificial creation of the Zika epidemic. The Zika virus is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which has been genetically engineered by the British biotechnology company Oxford Insect Technologies using funding from the Bill Gates Foundation. The first experiments with the genetically modified mosquito Aedes aegypti were conducted in the Cayman Islands in the Autumn of 2009. They have subsequently spread, mutated, and it is believed that they have become the carriers of the Zika virus. It is clear that the Zika epidemic was artificially induced.

Disproof

Conspiracy theory. No evidence is provided. The message contained in the article is consistent with the pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative that blames Bill Gates and/or other “global élites” for creating epidemics (including the COVID-19 pandemic) in order to reduce the world’s population or to achieve other objectives such as, for example, creating a global surveillance network by vaccinating people in order to secretly install tracking chips inside them. For background see how the pro-Kremlin media employs the concept of Malthusianism to spread conspiracy theories. A Zika outbreak began in Brazil in April-May 2015. The Zika virus was primarily spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. As Zika spread across South and Central America unfounded conspiracy theories blaming the epidemic on a variety of international actors– including the Gates Foundation, the British biotechnology company Oxford Insect Technology (Oxitec), the Rockefeller Foundation, pharmaceutical companies, the World Health Organisation and others – began to circulate. The geolitica.ru article repeats one of the main conspiracy theories about the Zika epidemic claiming that genetically modified mosquitoes released by the British biotechnology company Oxford Insect Technologies (Oxitec), which has received funding from the Gates Foundation, were behind the Zika outbreak. This conspiracy theory was debunked in 2016. Today, genetically modified mosquitoes, developed during the past several decades of research in university laboratories, are being used to combat mosquito-borne pathogens – including viruses such as Zika – in many locations around the globe. Read previous cases claiming that Bill Gates seeks to vaccinate everyone against the coronavirus in order to implant people with underskin microchips and has a Malthusian agenda, and that the new Gates-sponsored coronavirus vaccine will be used to reduce the world’s population.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 199
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 26/05/2020
  • Outlet language(s) Italian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Brazil, US
  • Keywords: coronavirus, health, Virus / bacteria threat, Bill Gates, Secret elites / global elites, Conspiracy theory
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Disinfo: Demonstrators want to continue the war in Donbas

In the centre of Kyiv, hundreds of Ukrainian neo-Nazis held the demonstration “Ukraine will resist” as part of the “No Surrender” initiative. They demanded that the Kyiv regime continue the war in Donbas, as well as ensure complete tolerance of and a lack of jurisdiction for Nazi militants.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the war in Ukraine. The action "Year of Zelenskyy - the year of revenge" took place in the centre of Kyiv on May 24. Activists were not demonstrating for the continuation of the war, but because they want to prevent the alleged legitimisation of the Russian backed groups that control parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Other demands included the dismissal of the head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak, the release of detained Maidan supporters, volunteers and the resumption of Ukraine's rapprochement with the EU and NATO. At the same time, there were no demands to continue the war in Donbas or ensure complete tolerance of and a lack of jurisdiction for Nazi militants.

Disinfo: The return of Crimea caused Western hostility against Russia

Relations between Russia and Western countries, including the United States, have deteriorated due to the Ukrainian crisis, the return of Crimea to Russia in March 2014, and sanctions against Russia. For its part, Moscow is seeking to confront this hostile Western approach and to restore normal relations with the West.

Disproof

This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the illegal annexation of Crimea.

Western countries are not hostile to Russia but are responding to the violation of international law caused by the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Disinfo: Intimidation of population with the “Russian expansion to the West” is a part of the state ideology of Poland

The Polish political establishment is the most interested side in the talks about the increase of the NATO contingent in Poland. The intimidation of the population with the talks about the “Russian expansion to the West” is a part of the state ideology of Poland. The deployment of new NATO units in Poland is not only a desire to show muscle in front of Russia but is also an attempt to strengthen the Polish role in the EU and NATO in order to receive more kindness from Washington.

Disproof

This message is a part of the Kremlin’s widespread narrative about Russophobic Poland. The Kremlin-controlled media regularly accuses the political elites of Poland of Russophobia and the implementation of anti-Russian policies. Within this narrative, the “Russophobic” policies of Poland are often explained by the claim that the United States fully controls the domestic and foreign policy of this country (presenting Poland as an American “puppet-state” or a “banana republic”). The Polish authorities do not promote a policy of “intimidation with Russia”. The main current Russia-related concerns of Poland are a result of the illegal annexation of Crimea and Russia's armed military aggression in Ukraine. The Polish government shows its full support to solving the Russia-Ukraine conflict and complete restoration of territorial integrity of Ukraine. The deployment of NATO troops in Poland increases the domestic security of Poland – two-thirds of the Poles have a positive opinion about NATO's activities. See other examples of similar messages claiming that constant intimidation with Russia is used to make Poland economically dependent on the USA, the Polish authorities created an insane hysteria of intimidation with Russia, used for the needs of domestic politics and the national security strategy of Poland is a manifestation of traditional Russophobia of the Polish authorities.