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Disinfo: Democratic institutions and principles are losing their influence in European politics

Summary

Democratic institutions and principles are losing their influence in European politics. This applies mostly to the relationships between the EU and individual member states in which Brussels seeks to strengthen its influence through NGOs.

This can be demonstrated by the current conflict with Poland and Hungary or the so-called fight against disinformation which is basically pure censorship. All information questioning the EU (and its so-called values) is going to have to be erased. All disinformation will have to be erased. Who is going to choose what is information and disinformation? A truth or a lie?

Disproof

The so-called “conflict” with Poland and Hungary was connected to these two countries blocking the EU budget and recovery funds because of a condition of abiding by the rule of law and democratic principles.

The European Democracy Action Plan, introduced by European Commission Vice President Věra Jourová, aims to tackle disinformation. Its intention is the reaction to these “worrying trends”.

More specifically, the fight against disinformation seeks to “move from self-regulation to co-regulation.” This, according to Věra Jourová, means “to stop allowing platforms and websites making money on disinformation; to design better ways to deal with manipulation through bots or with the use of fake accounts,” and also set up a monitoring system.

As Ms Jourová herself stated, “[w]e will not regulate on removal of disputed content. We do not want [to] create a ministry of truth. Freedom of speech is essential and I will not support any solution that undermines it.”

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Sputnik Czech (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 225
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 07/12/2020
  • Outlet language(s) Czech
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: EU, Hungary, Poland
  • Keywords: Censorship, Democracy, European values
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Russia is not a party to the internal Ukrainian conflict

In April 2014, the Ukrainian authorities launched a military operation against the self-proclaimed LPR and DPR, which declared independence after the coup d’etat in Ukraine in February of the same year. According to the latest UN data, about 13 thousand people became victims of the conflict. Kyiv has repeatedly accused the Russian Federation of intervening in the conflict in the region. Russia denies these charges. Moscow has stated more than once that it is not a party to the internal Ukrainian conflict and is interested in seeing Kyiv overcome the political and economic crisis.

Dec 06, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the war in Ukraine, attempting to portray it as a civil war.

There is irrefutable evidence of direct Russian military involvement in eastern Ukraine.

There is no doubt Russia has total sovereignty over the Kuril Islands

According to the resolution taken in 1945, the Kuril Islands became part of the Soviet Union. Today, the US State Department puts the results of World War II into question and encourages a tendency for revenge (By requesting Russian citizens born in the Kuril Islands to obtain an American residence permit).

Moscow insists that the aforementioned islands have become part of the Soviet Union legally, based on the results of the Second World War, and are part of Russia’s territory as the successor to the Soviet Union, noting that Russia’s sovereignty over the four islands is not questionable.

Dec 06, 2020
Disproof

Japan has disputed Russian ownership of the Northern Territories / Southern Kurils since the end of World War II.

The Island chain referred to as the Kuril Islands stretches northeast from Japan’s main northern island of Hokkaido to Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula.

Sweden supports Russia on Crimea

Sweden supports Russian on the ownership of Crimea. Crimea was always Russian. This view predominates in Sweden, says billionaire Dan Sten Olsson. According to the businessman, this view in only not supported by NATO.

Dec 06, 2020
Disproof

A recurrent claim on Crimea’s status and a false statement on Sweden’s position on the illegal annexation of Crimea.

Mr. Olsson is the head of a Swedish transnational corporation with large trade with Russia. He did express support Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in an interview with the Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter, but the claim was a personal view of Mr. Olsson. The businessman does not suggest that his views are representative for neither Swedish business circles, nor among Swedes in general.