Language:

See all Disinfo Cases - Detail

Disinfo: Estonia should not interfere in affairs of other countries

Summary

It is obvious that for Estonia, as a state, it would be much more useful to adhere to a more moderate line, without interfering in the affairs of other countries [as in the case of poisoning Alexei Navalny], since this brings nothing but problems for its inhabitants.

But since it is difficult to call Estonia’s foreign policy independent, one can only hope that the excessive zeal of local politicians will not become too destructive.

Disproof

The misleading narrative claims 1) that Estonia is interfering in the internal affairs of other counrties, 2) that sanctioning Russia for poisoning Alexei Navalny “brings nothing but problems” and 3) questions Estonia’s foreign policy independency.

The EUvsDisinfo database features numerous examples where Western countries are accused in interfering, for example the United States is allegedly interfering in Belarus, and Polish special services intervened in Ukraine. However, according to the pro-Kremlin media, the opposite is claimed to be true for Russia, as it never meddles in internal affairs of other countries. In reality, the interference of Russia in internal affairs for example of ex-soviet countries is a long tradition that sometimes even ended in frozen armed conflicts.

The question of who is independent and who is under the control of whom is a recurring topic. According to pro-Kremlin media, Russia is independent, but most of the other countries are not. Examples include: Ukrainian government is under the control of US (although Ukraine, Armenia and Azerbaijan have never been independent anyway), and Washington also controls Poland and Lithuania.

Go to search

publication/media

Baltnews Estonia (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 219
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 09/11/2020
  • Language/target audience: Russian
  • Country: Estonia
  • Keywords: Alexei Navalny, Sanctions

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

Western sanctions prevent the return of Syrian refugees

Most of the refugees want to return to Syria, and the biggest obstacle to their return is the Western blockade imposed on Syria.

November 10, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the Syrian war and belligerent intentions of the West against Syria. The claim was neither critically challenged not counterbalanced in the article.

Within the context of the Syrian conflict, EU sanctions, imposed since 9 May 2011, respond to the repression perpetrated on the Syrian people by the Syrian regime and its supporters, including through the use of live ammunition against peaceful protesters and the regime’s involvement in the proliferation and use of chemical weapons. EU sanctions against the regime were extended in May 2020 for one year, and in October 2020, new seven individual ministers were added to the list.

There are signs of a colour revolution in the US, public institutions are destroyed

Actually, this is one of the signs of a colour revolution, when institutions are destroyed in the struggle for power. Journalism is a public institution. The current bias in American journalism bears witness to its destruction. The President of the United States is a whole state institution. Cutting him off the air with offensive comments is the destruction of a state institution. Elections are also an institution. Since there is no correct result in the US election and there is no longer any hope of getting it, the institution of elections has also been destroyed.

November 10, 2020
Disproof

Unfounded claim on the non transparency of the US elections, spread in Russian State media. No US court decisions support these claims so far. See more on the Russian State media's notion of "colour revolution" (usually described as an organised unrest by the US or "Western curators" in post Soviet countries).

See previous similar conspiracy narrative that CIA is organising a colour revolution in US (reported back in September 2020), or several coups against US President Donald Trump.

Trump executed a perfect special operation against faking election results

There is no doubt that President Donald Trump won the election by a large margin, but we will never know the real results due to the voting ballots “pulled back” by the election machines. Trump is playing the waiting game brilliantly to uncover the fraud by the Biden family. Arrests are being put in motion. “We” know which ballots were thrown out, where they are right now, who possesses them.

November 10, 2020
Disproof

Recurring disinformation about the unconfirmed election irregularities in the US.

The preliminary report of the ODIHR's election observation mission states that the "The 3 November general elections were competitive and well managed despite legal uncertainties and logistical challenges." The report notes that the election day was orderly and took place in a peaceful atmosphere. The body highlighted that in places where they observed the vote count, it was conducted "professionally, efficiently and openly," and the problems that arose with electronic poll-books or voting machines were addressed quickly. The report does note various issues with the electoral process, such as the "animosity and heated rhetoric" between the two main candidates, possible disenfranchisement of voters without a photo ID, and the inability of those in the District of Columbia or US territories to vote for president. However, the ODIHR does not suggest in any way that there was widespread electoral fraud.