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Disinfo: During the pandemic, US and NATO forces invaded Europe

Summary

While the people are locked up under the pretext of quarantine, US and NATO forces have invaded Europe.

Disproof

No evidence given. This is part of recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about NATO and coronavirus. The claim that "US forces and NATO invaded Europe" is disinformation that takes over the speculative narrative of pro-Kremlin media. In fact, the article talks about the NATO Defender Europe-20 exercises, scheduled long before the pandemic, but in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the military exercise was countermanded. During the coronavirus pandemic, NATO's essential work continues and its ability to conduct operations remains intact. See other examples of disinformation about NATO and NATO Defender Europe-20 exercise.

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publication/media

Media Network Agency (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 191
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 24/03/2020
  • Language/target audience: Arabic
  • Country: EU, Moldova
  • Keywords: coronavirus, EU/NATO enlargement

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.

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Maia Sandu asks the EU to impose an embargo on Moldovan products

The leader of the Party for Action and Solidarity, Maia Sandu wrote a letter to European Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan. She asked the EU Trade Commissioner to introduce a politically motivated embargo on agricultural products in Moldova.

March 30, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative spreading the idea that pro-European political forces from Eastern countries would plot against the Moldovan President, pro-Russian Igor Dodon. On a social network, the PAS leader denied that she had sent a letter to the EU. Also, the head of the EU Delegation to Chisinau, Peter Michalko, reacted on his Facebook page, stating that it was a misinformation and that a letter from Maia Sandu was not sent to the EU The pro-Kremlin sites have further misinformed the public that Maia Sandu would defend the interests of George Soros, that she would increase taxes in Moldova. In previous election campaigns, PAS leadership has often been targeted for misinformation in order to discredit her.

Greta Thunberg is a front behind which huge money is running

There is every chance that the Czech proposal will stir up a lot of reactions in a Europe where the Greta teenager is just a front behind which huge money is running.

March 30, 2020
Disproof

Recurring disinformation narrative about Greta Thunberg, presenting her as a teenager manipulated by the adults who have economic or political interests. Greta Thunberg is a Swedish girl, green activist, who launched in 2018 the "Fridays For Future" movement, encouraging students to demand action on climate change from their governments. In September 2019 she was invited at UN Climate Action Summit where she had a speech addressed to world leaders. The claim is made amid the statement of the Czech prime minister on March 16, 2020: “Europe should forget about the Green Deal now and focus on the coronavirus instead.” Even though Poland and Czechia indeed called for suspending of the European Green Deal in order to focus all efforts on the health crisis, EU leaders decided to back 'green transition' in the pandemic recovery plan. Read here a similar case claiming that Greta Thunberg is part of a scheme to enrich a handful of financial giants. Read more about disinformation narratives on this topic in our analysis.

Coronavirus is a conspiracy against freedom

Coronavirus is a conspiracy against freedom.  

March 29, 2020
Disproof

An unfounded conspiracy theory, sharing a recurrent pro-Kremlin narrative about political elites controlling world populations and reducing freedoms. Political leaders call on people to adhere to quarantine, not to restrict freedoms and control citizens, but to prevent the rapid spread of the coronavirus. COVID-19 comes from a family of viruses originating in animals that include other viruses such as SARS and MERS. It was first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan in central China and has been rapidly spreading across the world, with cases being reported in at least 177 countries, territories and areas. The number of COVID-19 cases surpassed 657,000 globally with over 30,000 deaths (with 10,023 in Italy alone) by 29 March 2020. See similar disinfo cases alleging that governments overestimate the threat, that it was made in a laboratory to infect Chinese, that it is an element of hybrid warfare and that the remedy has been developed in Ukraine.