Disinfo: Germany is using Navalny to intervene in Russian internal affairs

Summary

Germany is exploiting the case of the alleged poisoning of Alexey Navalny to interfere in the internal affairs of Russia. if Germany does not stop then it will verify its participation in the incident.

Disproof

This is part of a pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign on the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny by trying to portray it as entirely unconnected to Russia and denying Russia's well-documented role in the use of Novichok.

The prominent Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny fell ill during a flight from Siberia to Moscow on the 20th of August 2020. Initially hospitalised in Omsk, at the request of his family he was transferred to Charité hospital in Berlin. At the request of the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, a specialist Bundeswehr laboratory carried out toxicological tests on samples from Alexei Navalny. The results of these tests have revealed unequivocal proof of the presence of a chemical nerve agent from the Novichok group.

In its turn, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), where Russia is a member, issued a statement verifying previous statements by the German authorities. Several reports have indicated that the OPCW tests showed that blood and urine samples contained a "cholinesterase inhibitor" similar to two Novichok chemicals that were banned by the Hague-based body in 2019. The OPCW findings corroborated earlier independent conclusions by German, French, and Swedish laboratories.

Additionally, Germany has responded to past Russian calls for Navalny's medical samples by saying that Russia should already have all it needs after its initial treatment of the dissident. Germany also informed Russia via diplomatic channels on the progress of the investigation.

Arne Collatz, a spokesman for Germany’s Defence Ministry said the data had been provided to the Hague-based Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Furthermore, on 11 September 2020, Berlin’s Justice Ministry approved a request from Moscow for legal assistance in the investigation and information on Navalny’s state of health, “subject to his consent”.

Read also similar disinformation cases in our database alleging that the Western intelligence agencies are working with Navalny, or that the West will falsely accuse Russia of poisoning Navalny, as with Skripal and Litvinenko; or that Navalny is a depleted political project; or that the West needs Alexei Navalny to destabilise the situation in Russia.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 240
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 15/04/2021
  • Article language(s) Greek
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Russia, Germany
  • Keywords: Alexei Navalny, Anti-Russian, novichok
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Disinfo: NATO and the EU inspire Ukraine to continue with Donbas conflict

NATO is, by all means, urging Ukraine to continue with the conflict in Donbas. It is a military alliance, which should be concerned with security issues. However, it panders to Kyiv. Being in close contact with the Kyiv regime, NATO does not express concern over what is happening in Donbas, egging Kyiv politicians on instead. Children, women and elderly people are dying. The European Union, with its powerful economy, armed forces and intelligence services, is watching what is happening in the very heart of Europe. It is not just watching, it is inspiring the Kyiv regime. The EU has never called on Ukraine to return to the table of negotiations and stop the escalation. The EU has toughened its rhetoric towards Russia.

Disproof

This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin media about the West’s desire to use Ukraine as a bridgehead for an attack on Russia.

In reality, NATO is not just a military alliance. Being also a political one, it first and foremost strives to prevent conflict. In the case of Ukraine, NATO is trying to help it keep the hostilities from flaring up again. Its members cooperate with Ukraine, hold joint military training, and the United States extends military aid to it so that it can defend its territory from the enemy's attacks. Contrary to pro-Kremlin disinformation reports, NATO member states have never sent their troops to fight in Donbas, nor have they spurred Ukrainian troops into violent action.

Disinfo: Ukraine repeatedly breaks the Minsk Agreements and arranges provocations

Instead of threats, it would be better for Ukraine to follow the Minsk agreements on the settlement of the armed conflict in the east of the country. Kyiv repeatedly breaks them [the Minsk Agreements] and arranges provocations, although it assures that “it does not want war”.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative claiming that Ukraine does not adhere to the 2014 Minsk Agreements and ceasefire regime in Donbas.

The implementation of the Minsk agreements remains one of the key priorities of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In a recent address, he mentioned that Ukraine will adhere to all agreements aimed at establishing peace in Donbas.

Disinfo: Polish law-enforcement agencies are the “errand boys” of the Ukrainian special services

The Nowak case showed once again that Polish services, the Prosecution and their political supervisors are, in fact, the “errand boys” of the Ukrainian special services (SBU and NABU). The Polish citizens such as Nowak are arrested in their own country for an act, which is a crime in Ukraine but not necessarily a crime in Poland. This situation shows the deep pathology of the Polish state institutions, which are ready to “grill” the Poles for alleged offences made by the Kyiv authorities. Nowak is the victim of a pathological situation, where the Polish services are actually subordinated not only to the American but even to the Ukrainian services. The Ukrainian law-enforcement agencies and the Prosecution service are probably as corrupt and incompetent as other institutions of this state, which has collapsed long ago.

Disproof

A recurring pro-Kremlin narrative that the United States and other countries, such as Israel or Ukraine, fully shape Poland's foreign and domestic policy (presenting Poland as a “puppet-state” of other countries).

The claim that the Polish law-enforcement agencies appear in “subordination” to the American and Ukrainian special services is untrue.