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Disinfo: Coronavirus gave the Baltic States a new excuse for Russophobia

Summary

Even during the pandemic of the coronavirus, the Baltic states are strictly following their anti-Russian agenda. Moreover, the terrible disease gave reasons to strengthen this Russophobia, including public statements that “Russians are infected with coronavirus more often than Latvians”. And even when help from China was brought over with the assistance of Russian aircraft, there was suspicion in the Baltic states.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin propaganda narrative about ubiquitous Russophobia in the EU and beyond, mixed in with coronavirus-related events. Read more about EU countries' response to the coronavirus here. For background, read our analysis: The “Russophobia” Myth: Appealing to the Lowest Feelingsand see earlier disinformation cases alleging that Brussels uses Russophobia as a uniting idea to prevent the EU’s collapse, that Russophobia is the main activity of the Latvian state and that the Baltic states’ policies are equal to the Third Reich whereas Russophobia has become a Western value.

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vz.ru (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 192
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 07/04/2020
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Baltic states, Russia, Latvia
  • Keywords: coronavirus, Russophobia, Baltic states
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Moscow Mayor is connected to neo-liberal circles and supports the hysteria over the COVID-19

[Moscow mayor Sergey] Sobyanin has insisted from the very beginning that strict quarantine must introduced in the capital and has been one of the main supporters of the media hysteria over the COVID-19 threat. Many saw it as a kind of political move to strengthen the power of the circles that include such persons as Moscow major Sergey Sobyanin that includes such controversial persons as Herman Gref (CEO of Sberbank of Russia), Elvira Nabiullina (President of the Central Bank of Russia). This circle is well known for its pro-Western, neo-liberal views and ties with the global elites.

Apr 06, 2020
Disproof

An unfounded conspiracy theory, sharing a recurrent pro-Kremlin narrative about "secret elites". The Mayor of Moscow imposed increasingly tighter quarantine measures as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Moscow surpassed 1000, on the 30th of March 2020. As of April 6th, 2020 there were over 6000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Russia.

The campaign predicting hundreds of thousands of deaths by COVID-19 is a lie

Do not let yourself be misled by the fear campaign, pointing to a Worldwide coronavirus calamity with repeated “predictions” that hundreds of thousands of people are going to die.

These are boldface lies. [—]

The unspoken truth is that the novel coronavirus provides a pretext to powerful financial interests and corrupt politicians to trigger the entire World into a spiral of mass unemployment, bankruptcy, extreme poverty and despair.

This is the true picture of what is happening. “Planet Lockdown” is an encroachment on civil liberties. Entire national economies are in jeopardy. In some countries martial law has been declared.

Apr 06, 2020
Disproof

An unfounded conspiracy theory, sharing a recurrent pro-Kremlin narrative about "secret elites" controlling world leaders. The number of people, sick with COVID-19 has surpassed 1 million; more than 60.000 people have died (5 April). See latest situation report from the WHO here. See more examples of pro-Kremlin disinformation about coronavirus here.

Ukraine is now a colony of the IMF and George Soros

The IMF, with Comrade Soros and his group, are operating this channel of external control. The fact that they [Ukraine] agreed to a deal with them on the land [reform] and everything else […] is a very obvious illustration of colonial administration [being established].

Apr 06, 2020
Disproof

Conspiracy theory. Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative alleging that Ukraine is controlled by the IMF and people like George Soros. The other part of the disinformation is about the law on the land market, which has recently been adopted by the Verkhovna Rada. Ukraine is a sovereign state, not controlled by any foreign government; it is not controlled by the IMF or George Soros. Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected by almost the whole world, including the EU. You can find several disinformation cases on Ukraine being under foreign control. The claim that the adoption of the law on the land market is an illustration of foreign control is false. The law states that only Ukrainian citizens and companies registered in Ukraine and under Ukrainian law will be eligible to buy agricultural land in Ukraine. Other restrictions are prescribed by the law. See previous narratives alleging that George Soros will buy all banks and land in Ukraine.