DISINFO: EU and US do not need democracy in Ukraine
SUMMARY
The surge of anti-democratic trends in Ukraine became possible because of a drastic change in the domestic situation in the United States. President Joe Biden allowed his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy to do any action except an all-out war in Donbas in order to keep the US control over Ukraine. The European Union turns a blind eye to Zelenskyy’s activities aimed at eliminating the opposition.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin media, trying to portray Kyiv’s recent attempts to diminish Russia’s influence in Ukraine as an assault on democracy. In reality, legal action against pro-Kremlin opposition leader Viktor Medvedchuk has nothing to do with alleged attacks on democracy. Medvedchuk was put under suspicion on 11 May 2021 after prosecutors presented evidence of his complicity in anti-Ukrainian activities.
Pro-Kremlin media also accuse Ukraine of closing three opposition TV channels. These TV channels -- ZIK, NewsOne and 112 Ukraina -- were oppositional and aired manifestly pro-Russian views, sometimes on the verge of blatant pro-Kremlin propaganda. However, the Ukrainian authorities did not take them off the air on 2 February 2021 for these reasons. Sanctions were introduced on their owner, Taras Kozak, an ally of Viktor Medvedchuk, who is widely believed to be their real owner. Medvedchuk is also a close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
These actions have nothing to do with what pro-Kremlin media and politicians call infringements on democracy. These are only Ukrainian attempts to finally get rid of Russian influence and continue its pro-Western course. The claim that the European Union and the United States do not want a democratic Ukraine is untrue. Kyiv’s Western partners support democratic reforms in Ukraine. EU and US officials often visit Kyiv for talks at various levels to discuss human rights in Ukraine and ways to improve the situation. Ukraine’s human rights record, albeit often criticised, is much better than those of some other ex-Soviet neighbours (read here and here).
Read more disinformation narratives alleging that there is no democracy in Ukraine.