Disinfo: Eastern Partnership aims to erode Belarusian identity and promote the views of Polish gentry

Summary

The Eastern Partnership’s aim is to promote the so called European values in Belarus and other EaP countries. Hence, it aims at eroding their identities and replacing their national histories with EU and NATO views. As for Belarus, the Eastern Partnership initiative plans to replace all-Russian history with the version of history elaborated by the Polish gentry.

The Eastern Partnership initiative is a ‘Trojan horse,’ which was constructed by chauvinistic Polish circles in order to crack the civilisational foundation of Belarusian society. It is a noose on the Belarusian statehood placed there by Poland. The latter plans to take over western Belarus as was boldly voiced by Polish president Andrzej Duda in 2015 in relation to western Ukraine.

Disproof

This is a conspiracy theory consistent with recurring disinformation narratives about about Poland's hostile plans towards Belarus and Western attempts to to destabilise Belarus.

No statements were made by Polish president about plans to take over Western Ukraine or Belarus as alleged. Poland respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbouring states. The Eastern Partnership programme aims to reinforce the political association and economic integration of six Eastern European and South Caucasus partner countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. It is not directed against any country, including Belarus and does not target the country's identity or impose its version of history. Read more about the EaP's recent and ongoing activities.

Read earlier disinformation cases alleging that the EU's aim behind the Eastern Partnership programme is to change the political regimes in Belarus and Russia, that Alyaksandr Lukashenka skipped the Eastern Partnership summit in Brussels because the West could organise his killing, and that Poland pursues aggressive imperial project Intermarium.

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Reported in: Issue 161
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 23/08/2019
Language/target audience: Belarus, Russian
Country: Russia, Belarus, Poland
Keywords: EU, Eastern Partnership, European values, Conspiracy
Outlet: Teleskop-by.org

NATO is not interested in strengthening Georgia

The president, prime minister, defence minister, and others have been deceiving the public when they state that NATO empowers Georgia. NATO does not strengthen Georgia stronger; NATO just prepares the country for its own tasks.

August 26, 2019

Disproof

This claim is part of a larger campaign aimed at influencing public support towards Georgia's NATO aspirations and portray neutrality as the most rational foreign policy choice for Georgia. See here for other examples of disinformation targeting NATO-Georgia relations.

In April 2019, NATO approved the "Black Sea package". The framework of the package envisages training of Georgia’s naval forces and coast guard service, paying visits to ports, and sharing information. In addition, NATO vessels will participate in exercises together with Ukrainian and Georgian vessels.

The EU sanctions against Russia were introduced to prevent the development of the Eurasian Economic Union

The establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union was taken by Brussels as a declaration of war. Post-Soviet integration provoked the EU’s fury. This is one of the main reasons, if not the key one, behind EU sanctions against Russia.

August 26, 2019

Disproof

This message is a conspiracy consistent with recurring pro-Kremlin narratives about the West's anti-Russian activities and attempts to disrupt Russia's relations with allies.

The founding treaty of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) was signed by Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia on 29 May 2014, followed later by Kyrgyzstan and Armenia. The EAEU came into existence on 1 January 2015. Its establishment, however, has nothing to do with the reasons for the EU"s sanctions against Russia. The first round of EU sanctions against Russia was introduced on 17 March 2014. The first bans and freezes assets were imposed on individuals involved in actions against Ukraine's territorial integrity following Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea. Later, in July 2014, in view of Russia's actions destabilising the situation in eastern Ukraine, the EU imposed economic sanctions and reinforced them in September 2014. In March 2015, the European Council linked the duration of those economic restrictions to the complete implementation of the Minsk agreements.

Moldova – “hostage” of the US military presence in Romania

Moldova, as well as other countries in the neighborhood, is a “hostage” of the Pentagon and NATO.

Positioning the American missile defense system in the Romanian town of Deveselu represents a direct threat to Russia, with foreseeable negative consequences for the security of Romania and its neighbors, including Moldova.

August 26, 2019

Disproof

This is a recurring conspiracy narrative about NATO's presence in Romania and its alleged negative impact on Moldova. It is also consistent with pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about the West's encirclement of Russia and an imperialistic US presence in Europe.

Regarding the positioning of the missile defense system, the US previously affirmed that it is in compliance with the INF Treaty (which has now been annulled due to Russia's repeat violations). Read more about Romania-NATO cooperation here.