Disinfo: It is absurd to suggest that Russia may inspire Coronavirus-related conspiracy theories

Summary

It is absurd to suggest that conspiracy theories claiming that there is no pandemic could be inspired by Russia. Why exactly from Russia, if the whole world is fighting with the Coronavirus? After all, Russia has also suffered from this situation…

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative denying that state-controlled Russian media have been involved in spreading disinformation about the Coronavirus. The EUvsDisinfo Database on disinformation as of 14 December 2020 contained close to 675 cases of disinformation related to COVID-19.

Russia’s disinformation campaign on the Coronavirus has been well documented by both media and governments, and some of their elements were widely reported by Russian and international publications.

Despite their potentially grave impact on public health, official and state-backed sources from various governments, including Russia, have continued to widely target conspiracy narratives and disinformation both at public audiences in the EU and the wider neighbourhood. These messages are characteristic of the Kremlin’s well-established strategy of using disinformation to amplify divisions, sow distrust and chaos, and exacerbate crisis situations and issues of public concern.

Some cases, for example, claim that Bill Gates and George Soros are sponsoring the Wuhan coronavirus, that it is a UK, US or NATO creation and Americans have its cure, that it is an artificial disease which specifically targets Chinese DNA, that it was created with economic goals while big pharma companies are spreading panic for their own profits, that it is a biological weapon against Russia and China, that it will wipe out Ukraine’s population in a few days or that it was predicted by Nostradamus and others.

Read previous cases claiming that mainstream media ignores the fake news campaign against Russia and that the EU is not publishing the coronavirus disinformation case it accuses Russia of spreading.

Go to search

publication/media

pl.sputniknews.com (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 224
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 11/12/2020
  • Outlet language(s) Polish
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Poland, Russia
  • Keywords: coronavirus, Anti-Russian, Conspiracy theory
see more

Disinfo: Crimea reunited with Russia after a referendum and Russia is not part of the conflict in Ukraine

Relations between Moscow and the West have deteriorated due to the situation in Ukraine and around Crimea, which was reunited with Russia after a referendum on the peninsula. Moscow was accused of interfering and sanctions against it were imposed. Russia retaliated, embarking on a course of import substitution. Also, the authorities have repeatedly noted that it is counterproductive to talk with Moscow in the language of sanctions. Russia has repeatedly stressed that it does not participate in the conflict in Ukraine and is not a subject of the Minsk settlement agreements.

Dec 10, 2020
Disproof

Several recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia, the war in Ukraine, and the ineffectiveness of sanctions against Russia.

No international body recognises the so-called referendum in Crimea. The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution entitled “Territorial integrity of Ukraine”, stating that the referendum in Crimea was not valid and could not serve as a basis for any change in the status of the peninsula. On 17 December 2018, the UN General Assembly confirmed its non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea.

Disinfo: EU sanctions exist because of the conflict in Donbas and Crimea joining Russia

The European Union imposed sanctions on Russia in 2014 against the subsequent accession of Crimea to Russia and the armed conflict in Donbas.

Dec 10, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Crimea willingly joining Russia and portraying the war in Donbas as an internal armed conflict.

The war in Eastern Ukraine is a well-documented act of ongoing aggression by Russian armed forces, since February 2014.

Disinfo: Europe attacks Russia in "vaccines' war"

Russia is following the traditional way to produce its anti-COVID vaccines, initially Sputnik V and now the EpiVacCorona, while Western pharmaceuticals are using a new, genetic type methodology which influences and changes human RNA. This justifies why Russian vaccines do not cause any side effects. However, bureaucrats and officials from European countries and the EU are trying to discredit the Russian vaccines, saying that there are attempts by the Russian mafia to steal the secrets of Western vaccines and even laying the ground for sanctions against Russia.

Dec 10, 2020
Disproof

This is a mix of several recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about alleged anti-Russian bias in the West and plots against Russia’s greatness.

There is credible evidence that the Russian government pressed Russian scientists and researchers to be the first to find a vaccine against COVID-19, and did everything at hand to shorten the process, raising concerns about the safety and efficiency of the Sputnik V vaccine.