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Disinfo: FBK calling on Biden to sanction Russians is a demonstration of it being a Foreign Agent

Summary

The Anti-Corruption Foundation (non-profit organisation acting as a foreign agent) called on US President Biden to impose sanctions on 35 people, including “8 high-ranking Russians close to Putin”.

The events of recent months have left no doubt that Navalny’s organisation deserves the status of a foreign agent. However, an open orientation towards a foreign state of a power which positions itself as the main fighter for the future of Russia, is simply unacceptable, because this is no longer a political struggle, but a betrayal of the homeland.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Alexei Navalny and the Anti-Corruption Foundation.

There is no evidence that Navalny’s organisation is a foreign agent.

Alexei Navalny is a founder and leader of the "Anti-Corruption Foundation" (FBK), which has investigated embezzlement from the state budget, uncovered the life of Russian politicians and businessmen close to the government and different corruption practices.

FBK's goal is to eliminate corruption. It has produced films and investigations which have been very visible: "Chaika" reached 17 millions views, "Don't call him "Dimon"" reached 42 millions views and "Putin's palace. History of world's largest bribe" 107 millions view in less than 2 weeks. Being films with a very large audience, these projects were written investigations with documents to prove what is inferred. The link to the written investigation is usually provided just under the video. The most recent is here.

Their funding comes from donations and therefore the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation recognised FBK as a "foreign agent" due to the Russian "foreign agent" law, since they receive donations from outside Russia. However, FBK does not agree with that claim and is trying to appeal this in court.

The EU has condemned the detention of Alexei Navalny and called for his immediate release.

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publication/media

Sputnik Georgia - Russian (Archived)
actualcomment.ru (Archived)
Ria Novosti (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 230
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 01/02/2021
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: US, Russia
  • Keywords: Alexei Navalny, Joe Biden, Sanctions
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The actions in support of Navalny is an episode in the West’s war against Russia

The illegal manifestations of the supporters of Alexei Navalny is an episode of the large war that the West is waging against Russia.

Jan 31, 2021
Disproof

An unfounded claim presented without evidence. This message is consistent with pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives that protests, disorders and civil uprisings are never manifestations of popular discontent but are "colour revolutions" directed and funded by Western intelligence services or other Western actors in order to destabilise targeted foreign states and bring about regime change(opens in a new tab). And the West is always an aggressive actor constantly preparing new coups (opens in a new tab)and colour revolutions(opens in a new tab) in post-Soviet states. This narrative has been applied, among others, to the Arab Spring revolts, Euromaidan(opens in a new tab) in Ukraine, protests in Catalonia(opens in a new tab), Venezuela(opens in a new tab), Georgia(opens in a new tab), and Belarus(opens in a new tab).

The 2021 Russian protests(opens in a new tab) began on 23 January 2021 in support of the arrested opposition leader Alexei Navalny and as a reaction to the investigation Putin's Palace(opens in a new tab). The rallies — from Russia’s Far East to central Moscow — came less than a week after Navalny returned from Germany, where he recovered from a nerve agent poisoning in August during a trip to Siberia. Navalny was arrested shortly after stepping off the plane. More than 3,300 people were arrested in protests spanning nearly 70 cities and towns across Russia(opens in a new tab).

The Liberals only want the protests for getting nice pictures for foreign newspapers

Navalny’s supporters need people to be detained in order to fight for their release. They are really wasting peoples’ lives.

The most disgusting part is that first and foremost they need nice pictures for the covers of western and Russian liberal newspapers. This is the really sick part of all this.

Jan 31, 2021
Disproof

An unfounded claim presented without evidence. This message is consistent with pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives that protests, disorders and civil uprisings are never manifestations of popular discontent but are "colour revolutions" directed and funded by Western intelligence services or other Western actors in order to destabilise targeted foreign states and bring about regime change(opens in a new tab). And the West is always an aggressive actor constantly preparing new coups (opens in a new tab)and colour revolutions(opens in a new tab) in post-Soviet states. This narrative has been applied, among others, to the Arab Spring revolts, Euromaidan(opens in a new tab) in Ukraine, protests in Catalonia(opens in a new tab), Venezuela(opens in a new tab), Georgia(opens in a new tab), and Belarus(opens in a new tab).

The 2021 Russian protests(opens in a new tab) began on 23 January 2021 in support of the arrested opposition leader Alexei Navalny and as a reaction to the investigation Putin's Palace(opens in a new tab). The rallies — from Russia’s Far East to central Moscow — came less than a week after Navalny returned from Germany, where he recovered from a nerve agent poisoning in August during a trip to Siberia. Navalny was arrested shortly after stepping off the plane. More than 3,300 people were arrested in protests spanning nearly 70 cities and towns across Russia(opens in a new tab).

US involvement in the protests in Russia is a proven fact

The blatant involvement of the United States in Russia’s internal affairs is proven by the fact that the internet platforms, under US control, spread fakes and calls to participate in un-sanctioned actions. Videos with calls to participate in manifestations, sometimes addressing minors, have been published by YouTube, controlled by Google.

Jan 31, 2021
Disproof

This message is consistent with pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives that protests, disorders and civil uprisings are never manifestations of popular discontent but are "colour revolutions" directed and funded by Western intelligence services or other Western actors in order to destabilise targeted foreign states and bring about regime change(opens in a new tab). And the West is always an aggressive actor constantly preparing new coups (opens in a new tab)and colour revolutions(opens in a new tab) in post-Soviet states. This narrative has been applied, among others, to the Arab Spring revolts, Euromaidan(opens in a new tab) in Ukraine, protests in Catalonia(opens in a new tab), Venezuela(opens in a new tab), Georgia(opens in a new tab), and Belarus(opens in a new tab).

Unlike traditional media, content of social media is provided by the users. YouTube, Facebook, Google etc provides platforms for peer-to-peer exchange of content, be that pictures of kittens, political memes or discussions on current affairs. The companies issue terms of use for the platforms and can, if necessary, limit the access to the exchange if a user violates those terms. The platforms themselves do not produce the content.