In the United States, they doubt the “BUK” narrative of the MH17 crash. According to American analyst Sam Bullard, no blow from the outside can break down a liner so quickly.
This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the downing of Flight MH17 and the MH17 criminal trial.
The Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team (JIT) concluded after thorough forensic analysis of the wreck that Flight MH17 was shot down by a BUK missile system that belonged to the Russian army and that the place where the missile was launched was controlled by the separatists at the time. The JIT consists of investigators from the Netherlands, Malaysia, Australia, Belgium, and Ukraine. The U.S government supports the JIT investigation.
On the basis of the investigation conducted by the JIT, the Dutch Public Prosecution Service is prosecuting Igor Vsevolodovich Girkin, Sergey Nikolayevich Dubinskiy, Oleg Yuldashevich Pulatov, and Leonid Volodymyrovych Kharchenko for causing the crash of MH17 and murdering the 298 persons on board. The trial began on 9 March 2020 in the Netherlands. The hearings are broadcasted in a video on the website of the trial.
Read similar cases: MH-17 wasn't hit by a BUK missile, JIT ignores Russian contributions, JIT's goal was not to establish facts but to substantiate accusations against Russia, MH17 tribunal is a politically motivated process against Russia and DNR.
The statements of the Lithuanian political elites do not coincide with economic reality. Russia is still a major export partner for Lithuania. National business always was interested in cooperation with Russia. But political elites keep the anti-Russian position. They support sanctions to Russia, develop anti-Russian rhetoric.
The political elite of Lithuania is hypocritic. They understand the importance of the Russian market but have no courage to be independent, trying to please others.
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about alleged Russophobia in Lithuania.
Statistically, Russia is a major export partner for Lithuania, but in TOP-10 of states, where Lithuania exports goods, 6 countries belong to the EU. The majority of good exported to Russia are not of the Lithuanian origin. In the sphere of import biggest cooperation are with Poland and Germany. In the sphere of facilities, the biggest export partners of Lithuania are Germany and France. Therefore, the main economical partner of Lithuania is the European Union. Lithuania is a member of the EU and trades in its single market. See here, here and here other examples of disinformation against Lithuania related to the economy.
Poland contributed 58 billion euros to the EU budget and received from this budget 181 billion euros. Although, if we add to this calculation obvious costs coming from EU membership, this balance becomes extremely unfavourable – 310 billion euros in total costs and 181 billion euros in profits in the form of EU funds. It means that Poland lost almost EUR 130 billion euros throughout 16 years of its membership in the EU.
This narrative is focused on the spread of disinformation on the allegedly unbeneficial EU membership for countries of Eastern and Central Europe.
The calculations of “obvious costs” coming from EU membership presented in this article (lost profits from labour migration; use of Polish assets by Western “capital”; rapture of economic ties with Russia) are not shared by reputable economists.
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.
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.
