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Disinfo: Italy was essentially alone in front of the coronavirus. Russia was the first to help.

Summary

Italy was essentially alone in front of the coronavirus. Russia was the first, to give a helping hand. Russian specialists brought special equipment to disinfect boarding houses and hospitals. In total, the military processed eight medical institutions and disinfected over 20 thousand square meters.

Disproof

Speculative claim about "abandoned Italy." This claim exploits the coronavirus pandemic to push a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about West's crumbling solidarity. While Russia has sent a military team to Italy, there are numerous examples of solidarity in the Western world, including among the EU and individual Member States.

To cushion the blow to people’s livelihoods and the economy, the European Commission has adopted a comprehensive economic response to the outbreak, applied the full flexibility of the EU's fiscal rules, has revised its State Aid rules and proposed to set up a EUR 37 billion Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative to provide liquidity to small businesses and the health care sector.

The Commission is further increasing its response by proposing to set up a €100 billion solidarity instrument to help workers keep their incomes and businesses stay afloat, called SURE. It is also proposing to redirect all available structural funds to the response to the coronavirus. To support scientific research into COVID-19, the European Commission earmarked 47,5 million EUR for shortlisted research projects that can improve epidemiology and public health, including preparedness and response to outbreaks.

The EU also created the first ever stockpile of medical equipment.

EU Member States are helping each other in this crisis; for example, German hospitals have offered to treat critical coronavirus patients from France as well as taking in patients from Italy and the Czech Republic has sent masks to Italy.

Read more about the EU's response here and here. See similar cases claiming that the idea of a united Europe has crashed, or the myth about “European unity” is destroyed.

More on EU repsonse to the COVID-19 outbreak here

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publication/media

ru.armeniasputnik.am (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue191
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 30/01/2020
  • Language/target audience: Russian
  • Country: Italy, Russia
  • Keywords: coronavirus

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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Poland asks Italy to refuse Russian aid

Poland asks Italy to refuse Russian aid, claiming that it is inappropriate to accept help from the Kremlin’s hands.

 

 

March 31, 2020
Disproof

No evidence given.

This disinformation message is consistent with pro-Kremlin media's false claims that Poland was obstructing Russian aid flights to Italy. For a more detailed debunk see Polygraph.

Unlike Russia, US tramples constitutional rights amid coronavirus crackdown

Amid efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the US, the no. 1 thing that has been quarantined is the Constitution itself. Around 200 million Americans find themselves under the house arrest, their First Amendment rights to public protest or association suspended. They cannot even go to church for fear of being arrested.

In Russia, the right to assembly or movement may only be restricted based on individualized suspicion. On the other hand, the US authorities simply presume the guilt of more than 200 million of its own citizens.

March 31, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative concerning the coronavirus pandemic.

Temporary limits on citizens' movement are a logical consequence of efforts to check the spread of the pandemic in a number of countries, including China, Italy, Norway, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

Covid-19 vaccines will lead to Full Spectrum Dominance by the Deep Dark State

Vaccine production is promoted for an important political agenda for a New World Order. A plan has been on the drawing board for the last few years, dictated by the obscure clan, or “Deep Dark State”, and designed by its minions, who expect to be generously rewarded in one way or another. The forced coronavirus quarantine creates fear and anxiety, frustration and anger, which are bad for health and reduce the immune system. Exactly what the people in charge want. The fear factor is the key. The time will come when people will literally scream for help. They want police and military state to protect them and to be vaccinated. The vaccination cocktail could serve to reduce fertility or cause long-term neurological defects that can even be passed on to next generations. But people don’t care nor do they want to know that along with the vaccine could be a nano-chip injected that will contain all their personal data, from health records to bank accounts, and can be electronically remote-controlled. The universal vaccination and electronic ID go together and will first be tested in a few developing countries, like Bangladesh. This will eventually lead to Full Spectrum Dominance.

March 31, 2020
Disproof

Conspiracy theory, with no evidence provided to support any of the claims.

This is part of Russia’s disinformation campaign on coronavirus, well documented by both media and governments. Some elements of this campaign were widely reported by Russian and international publications and by the European External Action Service. It is also mixed with a long-established false narrative about a Shadow Government of all-powerful groups ruling the world. This narrative aims to question the legitimacy of democracy and Western institutions.

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DISCLAIMER

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.