Disinfo: France is a new look on tyranny

Summary

They say that the word ‘dictatorship’ for the French situation is too strong. Of course, if you compare it with the Soviet Union or Nazi Germany, it will seem exaggerated. Still, there are ‘dead’ people too, because of capital, because of capitalism. Everything we eat, we ingest that causes cancer, all the people who kill one other, who are taking antibiotics and antidepressants, they are living dead. The destruction is almost invisible, but it is still there. Tyranny is invisible, but it is there.

Disproof

"Tyranny" or "dictatorship" are used to qualify political systems based on whether they respect or disrespect the civil and fundamental rights of the population (freedom of speech, of assembly etc.) and not the quality of food, antibiotics, or more broadly speaking, social rights. Politically free countries enjoy a high standard of social rights, including France. This is a recurring disinformation narrative presenting Western countries as dictatorships. According to Freedom House, "the French political system features vibrant democratic processes and affords generally strong protections to civil liberties and political rights. However, due to a number of deadly terrorist attacks in recent years, successive governments have been willing to curtail constitutional protections and empower law enforcement. Anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant sentiment have also increased." See more disinformation cases on the Western countries as dictatorships.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 154
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 05/06/2019
  • Outlet language(s) French
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: France
  • Keywords: Emmanuel Macron
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Disinfo: Incident in the Kerch Strait was a Ukrainian provocation

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Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation on Ukraine and Azov Sea that Ukrainian Navy deliberately violated Russian territorial waters during the Kerch strait incident, or that Petro Poroshenko instigated the provocation in Kerch Strait to extend his power. On November 25, border patrol boats belonging to Russia’s FSB security service seized two small Ukrainian armoured artillery vessels and their crews after shooting at them, wounding several Ukrainian servicemen. Russia argued that they were in Russian waters. However, a bilateral treaty between Russia and Ukraine, signed in 2003 and ratified by Russia in 2004 governs the use of the Kerch strait and the Sea of Azov. The agreement states the stretch to be the “internal waters” of both Russia and Ukraine. On May 25, 2019, the United Nations Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ordered Russia to immediately release Ukrainian sailors and allow them to return to Ukraine.

Disinfo: Ukraine is losing on the free trade agreement with the EU

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Disproof

No evidence given. Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation on Ukraine and its relations with the European Union. In June 2014, the EU and Ukraine signed an Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), which promotes deeper political ties, stronger economic links and the respect for common values. See here for more details about EU-Ukraine relations. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicates positive trends in the trade relations between Ukraine and the EU, with the volume of trade in services between Ukraine and the EU in 2018 increasing by 17%. The Ukrainian Statistical Service informs that the EU accounts for 43% of Ukrainian exports. In 2017, Ukraine exported 17.5 bln USD worth of goods to the EU. The negative trade balance decreased from 10 bln USD to 3 bln USD. See here for further information about the DCFTA and the cooperation between the EU and Ukraine.

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Disproof

No evidence given. Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative, challenging Ukraine's statehood and portraying Poland as having imperialist ambitions. Ukraine is a sovereign state, one of the founding members of the United Nations, a strategic partner for NATO and the EU. Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected by most of the free world but were violated by Russia in 2014. To NATO, a sovereign, independent and stable Ukraine, firmly committed to democracy and the rule of law, is the key to Euro-Atlantic security. More details on the cooperation between Ukraine and NATO could be found here.