DISINFO: EU funds the protests in Kyrgyzstan in exchange for valuable minerals
SUMMARY
The head of the EU representation’s in Kyrgyzstan political press and information section in open text awaits the beginning of mass disturbances in the country, right after the election. The video [on the internet] reveals that. The head of the opposition party reports: “we have been preparing for this, good sir, everything is going according to plan. Only the money is missing”. The foreign guest asks in a business-like manner, “how much”? And gives the oppositioner his phone – “type in the sum”. The price of the coup: 200,000 US dollars, but it is only the advance. The oppositioner typed the final sum into the smartphone of the good envoy from Europe. The sum was not voiced, however there was a promise after the victory to give the West the access to valuable minerals. The EU envoy said: “we will give money, if there are protests like in Belarus”.
RESPONSE
Disinformation about the EU and Kyrgyzstan. The disinformation claim appeared after a video was released on the internet of a meeting between an EU diplomat and a leader of an opposition Chon Kazat party in Kyrgyzstan. The grainy video was taped in secret without the audio, subtitles were later added to it. There is no evidence to support any claims made in the video. The Kyrgyz politician stressed to the local media, that the video was fake. In fact, two doctored videos are circulating on the internet - one allegedly showing the meeting of the politician and the EU diplomat, another - the meeting of the politician and a Russian political scientist. EU bilateral development cooperation with Kyrgyzstan amounts to €174 million for the period 2014-2020. The cooperation supports the national priorities set by the Kyrgyz Government and focuses mainly on the rule of law, education, rural development and investments. The EU has never financed protests in any country. The claim that external actors, including the EU and the US are stirring up protests in Russia's neighborhood is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative.