Language:

See all Disinfo Cases - Detail

Disinfo: The West has promoted separatism in Yugoslavia

Summary

The West has promoted separatism in Yugoslavia and created national states that still do not know what to do. Why not recognise Donbas or Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)?

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative drawing parallels between the case of the independence of Kosovo and Russia's actions in the post-Soviet area.

The process of the breakup of Yugoslavia was painful, leading to wars. (civil to be erased, and plural to be added, because there were wars in Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia) The cause of the dissolution (more suitable than collapse) of Yugoslavia lied in inner political and social processes. As described by the BBC: "Nationalism had once again replaced communism as the dominant force in the Balkans". The West's involvement in the events of the breakup of Yugoslavia was only with the aim of peace-keeping. I.e. in 1999 NATO sought to cease ethnic cleansing in the Kosovo region.

Kremlin propaganda uses the story of Yugoslavia to defend Moscow's activities in areas of frozen conflicts (i.e. Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Donbas, Nagorno-Karabakh, etc). The defence tactic accuses the West of double standards, drawing unreasonable parallels between the Kosovo independence movement and Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea. This is clear manipulation because recognition of Kosovar statehood was held after civil war and decades of international administration and status negotiations. The annexation of the Crimea was different: the period between Russia's military operation and annexation of Crimea was 20 days.

The parallels between the history of the breakup of Yugoslavia and the current situation in Donbas or Nagorno-Karabakh are incorrect as well. The recent escalation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region is a continuation of the decades-old conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia. As for Donbas, it is historically a Ukrainian region. The so-called DPR (or DNR) and LNR are parts of the Ukrainian regions Donetsk and Luhansk but supported by Russian military units. Not a single country has recognised them as independent entities.

See similar cases of manipulation: Double standards in Western attitudes on status of Kosovo, Crimea, Crimean referendum was the will of the Crimeans, while Kosovo was an outside intervention, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict leads to more tensions in the Donbas.

Go to search

publication/media

Polnyi contact - Radio Vesti [from 25:25 to 25:48] (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 219
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 04/11/2020
  • Language/target audience: Russian
  • Country: Armenia, Yugoslavia, Azerbaijan, Kosovo, Ukraine
  • Keywords: Yugoslavia, Kosovo, Nagorno-Karabakh, Donbas, The West

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

see more

Certain forces have encircled Russia with an explosive geopolitical belt

A gigantic effort will indeed be required from the Kremlin along the entire perimeter of the Russian state border. You can start with Finland, then walk along with the Baltic troika, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan. Further – Central Asia … And so on up to the Pacific Ocean and Japan. You just need to understand that there is an openly explosive geopolitical belt, with which certain forces, working for decades, have ringed Russia. And this “martyr’s belt” was closed in the South Caucasus.

November 08, 2020
Disproof

The article appeared in the context of the recent escalation in Nagorno-Karabakh which is a continuation of the decades-old conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia. It is a conspiracy theory framing Russia as the ultimate target of international events, conflicts, revolutions and protests, based on a recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russia being encircled through a so-called “Anaconda plan”, as well as narrative about NATO's aggressive agenda toward Russia.

This recurring pro-Kremlin narrative paints all manifestations of popular discontent in the region as colour revolutions, portrays entire nations of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe as pathologically Russophobic, and alleges that the West is attempting to encircle Russia and create instability around all Russian border.

After elections, American foreign policy will remain unchanged as it is run by the “deep state”

The continuity in American foreign policy has another explanation. Not depending on the outcome of elections, the same people will be responsible for the sphere of foreign policy. The representatives of the “deep state” working in the CIA and other agencies consequently realise their strategy, regardless of political changes in the country.

November 08, 2020
Disproof

This message presents a classical conspiracy theory that the “deep state” and “shadow government” control the work of democratic institutions in the United States. Here are some other examples of this narrative: “Deep state” fighting with Trump; FBI appears under the influence of “Deep state”; “Deep state” shaping NATO policies. No reputable political scientists and researchers confirm the existence of a “deep state” in the United States.

The idea of a “deep state" has always been very popular among conspiracy theorists. Its manifestations might be different, but generally, the concept conjures up the image of a small group deciding the fate of the world behind the scenes. However, there is no evidence of such a "permanent bureaucracy" or "permanent government" existing in the United States.

New American President will use Poland for destabilisation of the post-Soviet countries

The most important issues for the future of Poland under the rule of the new American President are easy to define. They include the following: increase of the US military presence in Poland in order to prepare for a potential confrontation with Russia; continuation of monopolisation of the Polish gas market by American companies; implementation of business agreements clearly beneficial to Washington (such as the construction of a nuclear power plant in Poland); pushing the Chinese telecommunication companies out of Poland; use of Poland for the destabilisation of the situation in the post-Soviet countries; realisation of next expensive military contracts.

November 08, 2020
Disproof

This message is a mix of the most popular disinformation narratives about US-Polish relations. It promotes the idea that the USA uses Poland as a “puppet-state” in order to achieve its economic and international goals.

The claim that the US authorities use Poland in order to destabilise the post-Soviet countries is a conspiracy theory. The import of the American LNG to Poland is aimed at de-monopolisation of the Polish energy market, making it less dependent on the Russian gas supplies.