Disinfo: EU imposes sanctions on Russia due to US pressure

Summary

The European Union imposed large-scale sanctions on Russia due to US pressure.

Disproof

Another conspiracy theory that the US controls the policies of the European Union. All EU countries are independent states whose policies are not regulated externally by any other country.

The first wave of EU sanctions against Russia was introduced immediately after the annexation of the Ukrainian Crimea - in March 2014. The European Union introduced the first sanctions against Russia for starting a war in Donbas in July 2014. The EU introduces various types of restrictive measures: diplomatic measures, individual restrictive measures, economic sanctions and more. All sanctions packages are renewed every six months for five years, each time the list of sanctions is gradually expanding. On 14th October 2019, the Council extended the restrictive measures by the EU addressing the use and proliferation of chemical weapons until 16 October 2020 which apply to four people involved in the Salisbury attack.

Read more about the sanctions here and previous cases can be consulted here.

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Reported in: Issue 168
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 13/10/2019
Language/target audience: Russian
Country: Russia, US
Keywords: EU, War in Ukraine, Donbas, Conspiracy, Sanctions, Crimea
Outlet: Vesti Nedeli @Rossiya 1 (00:13:20 - 00:13:27)

The US has destabilised Eritrea to provoke massive migration flows to Europe

For the past 15 years the US government has deliberately destabilised Eritrea by supporting terrorism, proxy wars, regime-change and sanctions in order to provoke massive migration flows of young Eritreans to Europe. The US aims to empty Eritrea of young people in order to invade it more easily and to punish Eritrea for not agreeing to host a US military base in the Dahlak Islands.

The following organisations are complicit in the US’s forced migration strategy in Eritrea: UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), George Soros’ Open Society Foundations, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch. These organisations attract ever-greater funding thanks to the increase in migrations flows of Africans towards Europe.

October 14, 2019

Disproof

Conspiracy theory. No evidence given.

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative blaming Western governments for deliberately provoking massive migration flows to Europe.

Latvia rewrites World War II history

Latvia is engaged in rewriting history, speaking out against the fireworks in honour of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Riga from Nazi invaders. Soviet troops liberated Riga from the Nazis on 13 October 1944, the victory of the USSR in the Great Patriotic War does not need to be rewritten, this is an historical fact.

October 14, 2019

Disproof

Another example of pro-Kremlin historical revisionism. More cases here.

The Soviet Union occupied Latvia twice. The first time the occupation lasted a year. In the summer of 1940, when Nazi Germany attacked France, the Red Army occupied Riga. This was enabled through a secret protocol to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact on the separation of spheres of influence between the Soviet Union and fascist Germany. The second time, Soviet troops captured Latvia on 13 October 1944. Modern Latvia received full independence only after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The French President is aware of the definitive settlement of the Crimea issue

The French President is well aware that the question of Crimea is definitely settled and today it is time to start again the discussions with Russia. For the Russians, Crimea is their Alsace-Lorraine.

October 14, 2019

Disproof

No evidence given that Macron embraces the Russian point of view on the subject.

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the annexation of Crimea by Russia and its progressive recognition in the world. No international body recognises the so-called referendum, announced on 27 February 2014, and held on 16 March 2014 amid the presence of Russian troops. The UNGA adopted the resolution 68/262 on the territorial integrity of Ukraine. For the EU statement on the fifth anniversary of Crimea's annexation, see here.