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Disinfo: EU’s historical revisionism contributes to neo-Nazi trends in Ukraine and the Baltic states

Summary

The glorification of Nazism, historical revisionism and reassessment of the USSR’s role in WWII are worrying. The European Parliament’s resolution equals the USSR and Nazi regime. It opens the door for the demolition of Soviet monuments in European countries. Anti-Soviet interpretations lead to tolerance towards neo-Nazism – the ongoing trend in Ukraine and the Baltic states.

Disproof

This message is part of the Kremlin’s policy of historical revisionism. It accuses the EU and particular EU members such as the Baltic states of the “falsification and re-writing” of WWII history. Any disagreement with the official Kremlin’s view on the history of WWII is automatically labelled by Russia as support for “Nazism” or “falsification of history”.

This publication also falsely links Ukraine with Nazism. The accusation of Nazism is a popular propaganda technique used by pro-Kremlin outlets. Read more: Nazi east, Nazi west, Nazi over the cuckoo's nest. The myth of Nazi-ruled Ukraine has been the cornerstone of Russian disinformation about the country since the very beginning of the 2013-14 Euromaidan protests, when it was used to discredit the pro-European popular uprising in Kyiv and, subsequently, the broader pro-Western shift in Ukraine's foreign policy. In fact, far-right groups enjoyed a very limited presence during the Euromaidan itself and had poor results in the 2014 presidential and parliamentary elections. In the 2019 election, far-right candidates fell short of the 5% minimum guaranteeing entry into parliament.

The European Parliament resolution on the importance of European remembrance for the future of Europe stressed the fact that WWII was an immediate result of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. The resolution is aimed at the promotion of historical remembrance about WWII and condemnation of totalitarian ideologies. It is a proven fact that the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact contained the Secret Supplementary Protocol, which assumed the division of Poland and other Eastern European countries between the USSR and Germany. Thus, the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact enabled the German and Soviet military aggression against Poland in September 1939, which resulted in the occupation of this country by Germany and USSR, triggering the beginning of WWII.

See earlier disinformation cases alleging that Europe supports the revival of fascism, that “fake history” became a norm in the Western World, that Western countries revise WWII history to evade responsibility for allowing Hitler to gather strength for the attack on the USSR, and The European Parliament resolution on the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact is aimed at the demonisation of Russia.

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publication/media

Imhoclub (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 227
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 26/12/2020
  • Language/target audience: Russian
  • Country: EU, Ukraine, Baltic states
  • Keywords: European Parliament, USSR, Historical revisionism, WWII, Nazi/Fascist

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.

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Germany and Japan are occupied by the US

When Germany and Japan became serious competing powers for the French and British economies, France and the UK provoked WWII. They planned to destroy the USSR with the hands of Germany and Japan and to subordinate their economies. However, the US won the war and made Germany and Japan its colonies. They remain occupied by the US until now.

January 13, 2021
Disproof

This message is part of the Kremlin's policy of historical revisionism and promotes a recurring propaganda narrative about lost sovereignty/external control. Germany and Japan, being allies of the US, are sovereign countries and make sovereign decisions about their own security and policies.

False interpretations of the interwar history attempt to erode the disastrous historical consequences of the Soviet-Nazi Non-Aggression Pact. On August 23, 1939, Nazi Germany and the USSR signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact with a Secret Supplementary Protocol, which divided Eastern European countries between these two totalitarian powers. On September 1, 1939, Nazi Germany attacked Poland while the Soviet Union's attack on Poland started on September 17. In this way, Nazi Germany and the USSR started the implementation of the Secret Supplementary Protocol to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.

Assassination of John F. Kennedy and 9/11 attacks were organised by Deep State

Deep state structures were developing in the US more rapidly than in other countries. Their first stage appearance was linked to the assassination of John F. Kennedy, later they popped up in the Iran-Contra affair, and climaxed at the September 11 attacks.

January 13, 2021
Disproof

This is a mix of conspiracy theories and recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about global elites secretly ruling the world, particularly the so-called ‘Deep State’ in the United States. This narrative aims to question the legitimacy of democracy and Western institutions.

See earlier disinformation cases alleging that the US 2020 election doesn’t matter because the real ruler is the Deep State, that the “Deep State” fights with Trump, and examples of disinformation cases suggesting the US government's involvement in the 9/11 attacks.

The real international community congratulated Lukashenka with electoral victory

The Belarusian elections were not recognised by the so-called “world community” – more precisely, the United States and its satellites. As for the real world community, Russia, China, Turkey, and the CIS countries recognised Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s victory. When the rebellion and attempted coup actually failed, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and others fled abroad to their masters who inspired the Belarusian protests.

We have witnessed attempts to implement the Ukrainian scenario in Belarus. The street actions, Western puppeteers, and the Belarusian opposition attempted to pressurise Lukashenka for concessions. The major Lukashenka’s mistake was to trample on issues of further strengthening the Union State and integration with Russia. Moreover, it is the alliance with Russia that today is the only guarantee that pro-Western rebellions will not succeed. The need to deploy a full-fledged Russian military base in Belarus also suggests itself – both to protect against NATO encroachments and to guarantee the security of Belarus in the next attempt to seize power.

January 13, 2021
Disproof

This publication promotes recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about Western-led coup attempt in Belarus, non-sovereign Western countries, and the Belarusian opposition as Western puppets. It tends to discredit Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya by misinterpreting the reasons behind her departure from Belarus which was due to her being threatened by the Belarusian security forces. The publication absurdly calls Russia, China, Turkey, and the CIS countries "the real world community," implicitly marking all other countries as US's satellites.

The article falsely suggests that the close alliance with Russia will protect Belarus from Western encroachments, thereby offering a false dilemma about Belarus's political future. The NATO and Western countries do not pose a threat to Belarus or organise rebellions as alleged. They did not increase their military presence near the Belarusian borders following the elections. On 16 August, NATO dismissed allegations that it was conducting a military buildup near the country’s western border.