Disinfo: EU prohibits countries from saving its citizens from COVID-19

Summary

While it became clear last spring that the European Union was unable to effectively respond to the Coronavirus pandemic, against the background of selfishness and the struggle of member states over providing the necessary masks to protect their own citizens, today, for the purpose of boosting its unity with an empty show, the EU is prohibiting the usage of the vaccine from “enemy” in order to save its citizens.

Disproof

This claim exploits the coronavirus pandemic to push a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the EU's alleged disintegration and a speculative claim about EU leaving countries to fight the virus by themselves, along with information related to the possible Sputnik V vaccine.

The European Commission is already coordinating a common European response to the COVID-19 crisis and is supporting the Member States in tackling the pandemic and in mitigating its economic consequences.

The European Commission has adopted a comprehensive economic response to the outbreak, applied the full flexibility of the EU fiscal rules, has revised its State Aid rules and proposed to set up a EUR 37 billion Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative to provide liquidity to small businesses and the health care sector.

To support scientific research into the COVID-19, the European Commission earmarked 47.5 million EUR for shortlisted research projects that can improve epidemiology and public health, including preparedness and response to outbreaks. The EU has also created the first-ever stockpile of medical equipment.

At the same time, the European Commission has approved a €50 million aid scheme to support the production and supply of medical devices.

Regarding the vaccine from “the enemy”, this is a recurring disinformation narrative on the Sputnik V vaccine portraying EU countries as Russophobic.

The EU does not prohibit the usage of the potential “Sputnik-V” vaccine just because it is Russian.

In general, The Sputnik-V vaccine has been met with international scepticism, especially that it hasn’t completed large trials to test its safety and efficacy, and rolling out an inadequately vetted vaccine could endanger people who receive it.

The World Health Organisation expressed some reservations about the procedure followed by Russia initiating talks with Russian authorities about undertaking a review of the vaccine but refusing to endorse it right away.

See similar disinformation cases alleging that Italy is without help from "hypocritical EU" and that the EU left Italy face to face with an invisible and terrible enemy, or that ugly commercial interests are behind the criticism of the Russian COVID-19 vaccine or that WHO confirms the "Sputnik-V" vaccine is safe and effective.

This disinformation message appeared in the same article as the claim that It’s better for Ukrainians to die than to be saved by cheap Russian vaccine.

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  • Reported in: Issue 224
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 08/12/2020
  • Outlet language(s) Arabic
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: EU, Russia
  • Keywords: Sputnik V, coronavirus, Euro-scepticism, European Council, vaccination, EU disintegration, European Union, Russophobia
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Disinfo: Lithuania constantly interferes in the affairs of Belarus

Lithuania constantly interferes into the affairs of Belarus, supporting the opposition and calling for new elections in the neighbouring country. Lithuanian politicians think that the results of the presidential elections in Belarus were “falsified”. The Baltic countries implement personal sanctions against some Belarusian officials, including President Alexander Lukashenko.

Moscow has urged Lithuania many times not to destabilise the situation in the neighbouring country and allow people in Belarus to take matters in their own hands.

The Belarusian authorities have said many times that protests in the country are coordinated from abroad. Lukashenko accuses Western countries of direct interference in the situation in the republic. The US is the main coordinator and Europeans are supporters of the riots in Belarus.

Dec 07, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Lithuania and alleged Western attempts to organise a colour revolution in Belarus.

Lithuania is a neighbour of Belarus and it continues to support the Belarusian people. This support has included the possibility for Belarusians to arrive in Lithuania under the so-called humanitarian exception, the possibility for students from Belarus to begin studies in Lithuania etc.

Disinfo: NATO and the US organise constant provocations near Russian borders

NATO’s Secretary General is trying to substantiate NATO’s actions in the region with fabricated pretexts. Recently, the number of aggressive actions by the alliance near the Russian border has significantly increased. It is obvious that NATO’s actions are creating tension in the region. For example, military exercises in Romania and Georgia, or a strong desire to establish a base in Georgia. as well as the constant provocations organised by NATO and the United States.

Dec 07, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative on NATO belligerence towards Russia and on Russophobia.

Every nation has the right to conduct military exercises, but it is important that they are conducted transparently and in line with international obligations.

Disinfo: Elections in Venezuela were free and fair

The United States and the European Union have once again rushed to denounce the legitimacy of the electoral process several weeks before the polls opened. These allegations could, of course, be very easily confirmed or refuted by sending international observers. But once again, the most powerful countries in the West rejected Maduro’s request to send independent experts. In particular, Brussels set a condition for the delay of the election process, which would be in violation of the Venezuelan constitution which stipulates that elections must be held by the end of the year in order to replace the members of the National Assembly.

Dec 07, 2020
Disproof

This is a recurring pro-Kremlin media report in support of Venezuela and of the authoritarian Maduro regime. It also aims to discredit international and European criticism to the electoral process and accuse the West and more specifically, the EU, of interference in the country's domestic affairs.

The EU warned the Venezuelan authorities early on about the need to create proper conditions for fair and free elections to be held. The HR/VP of the European Commission Josep Borrell had tried to achieve a consensus between the Maduro regime and the opposition led by Juan Guaido on minimum requirements for elections to be held. These efforts took place as early as last September.