DISINFO: Donbas events were a classic rebellion against the Fascist tyranny
DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS
  • Outlet: sputnik.by (archived)*
  • Date of publication: July 26, 2019
  • Outlet language(s): Russian
  • Reported in: Issue 159
  • Countries / regions discussed: Ukraine, Russia
Tags:
Russian language Donbas Nazi/Fascist

DISINFO: Donbas events were a classic rebellion against the Fascist tyranny

SUMMARY

United Nations documents infer that the people have the right of rebellion against tyranny. Donbas events were a classical uprising against Fascist tyranny. People were told that they would be killed for speaking the Russian language.

RESPONSE

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative attempting to portray Donbas events as a civil war, with the aim to obscure ongoing acts of aggression by the Russian armed forces in Ukraine.

This message also contains another common pro-Kremlin narratives about Fascist / Nazi Ukraine and persecution of the Russian language speakers.

The right to rebellion against tyranny can be inferred in the third paragraph of the preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states: "Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by rule of law." However Ukraine was not subject to an authoritarian regime. After the Euromaidan the new President was elected in free and fair elections. According to the OSCE, "the people of Ukraine had the opportunity to genuinely express their will at the ballot box."

Embed

Related disinfo cases

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.

    Your opinion matters!

    Data Protection Information *

      Subscribe to the Disinfo Review

      Your weekly update on pro-Kremlin disinformation

      Data Protection Information *

      The Disinformation Review is sent through Mailchimp.com. See Mailchimp’s privacy policy and find out more on how EEAS protects your personal data.