A harsh lesson on the limits of Russian patience was given to the diplomats of a few European countries after representatives of the General Consulats took part in un-sanctioned rallies in our country 23 January.
Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared Swedish, Polish and German diplomats personae non gratae after participation in meetings.
A false claim on the activities of European diplomats. The three expelled diplomats did observe the manifestations, but the allegations that they took part in demonstrations are false. The European Union strongly condemned the decision to expel the European diplomats and rejected the allegations that they conducted activities incompatible with their status as foreign diplomats.
We live in a country [Poland] where Russophobia has reached the level of official state policy. Work is being done to redefine the legal definition of espionage to include cooperation with media from the countries considered as hostile.
It is fascinating to see that Polish public discourse is dominated by the idea that Poland needs to have the worst possible relations with a neighbor, who is a nuclear superpower.
This message is a part of the Kremlin’s widespread narrative about Russophobic Poland. The Kremlin-controlled media regularly accuse the political elites of Poland of Russophobia and the implementation of anti-Russian policies.
The Polish authorities do not promote Russophobia or any type of “anti-Russian paranoia”. The Polish authorities have repeatedly stated that Poland is willing to improve its relations with Russia – these relations will automatically improve if Russia starts observing the regulations of international law. In a statement of 21 December 2019, the Polish authorities reiterated their openness to continue the historical dialogue with Russia, for example through restarting the work of the bilateral Group on Difficult Issues.
As the bane of foreign meddling in Russia’s sovereign affairs and boy-toy of MSM Alexey Navalny retired from the scene after he finally faced the widely-expected, but still pretty soft punishment for his multiple violations of the law. So now, the masters behind the attempt to destabilize Russia needs some another fake leader of its network of influence. Fortunately, for them, there is a candidate.
Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya, which was proclaimed the ‘winner’ of the presidential election in Belarus by NATO member states, but fled the country and is now hiding in Lithuania, is already promoting Navalny’s wife, Yulia, as the ‘leader’ of the ‘Russian opposition’.
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Alexei Navalny. The claim that Navalny is somehow used by the West and foreign special services for the political destabilisation of Russia is disinformation.
Anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny has long been the most prominent face of Russian opposition to President Vladimir Putin. His candidacy in the 2018 presidential election was banned by authorities over his conviction by a Russian court for embezzlement, which bars him from running for office. He has been arrested and imprisoned several times during his political career.
Russia was forced to expel three diplomats from Poland, Sweden, and Germany due to their participation in illegal pro-opposition protests on 23 January.
The claim advances a pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative concerning the ongoing protests in support of jailed opposition activist Alexei Navalny.
None of the three diplomats actually participated in the demonstrations. The foreign ministries of Poland, Sweden, and Germany have all confirmed that their presence at the protests was linked solely to the fulfillment of their diplomatic duties of monitoring protests. According to the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, these duties include "[a]scertaining by all lawful means conditions and developments in the receiving State, and reporting thereon to the Government of the sending State" (Article 3(d)).
