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Disinfo: Maidan protests in Ukraine were staged, neo-Nazis and nationalists were behind them

Summary

After 6 years the video footage of Maidan protests looks differently: if in February 2014 young, inspired faces of students, believing in the European integration and ideals of freedom were beamed to the TV screens around the world, now the hands of puppet masters are obvious. And in the background there is an actual army of the Ukrainian revolution, – neo-Nazis and nationalists.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the Euromaidan protests in 2014 in Ukraine.

The demonstrations that began in Kyiv in November 2013, called "Maidan" or "Euromaidan", emerged organically as a result of the Ukrainian people's frustration with former President Yanukovych's last-minute U-turn on the highly anticipated EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, which had been under negotiation for seven years. The protests were followed by Presidential and parliamentary elections.

Far-right groups had a very limited presence during the protests and have suffered defeats in every national election.

See previous disinformation narratives alleging that the 2014 Ukraine coup was orchestrated by neo-Nazis, Euromaidan was a coup supported by the US, the Donbas problem arose after the Kyiv coup, Euromaidan was a coup fomented by Victoria Nuland and that Violent protesters killed 38 policemen during the Kyiv coup.

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  • Reported in: Issue 185
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 23/02/2020
  • Language/target audience: Russian
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Keywords: Euromaidan, Nazi/Fascist
  • Outlet: Izvestia Glavnoe @ 5 kanal [16:40 - 17:10]

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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The goal of Maidan was to bring oligarchs to power

It has been 6 years since the Maidan coup in Ukraine. People were expecting Europe, freedom and heavenly manna, but instead got European slavery. And also a hike in crime, corruption and debts. Despite the rotation of government officials, nothing has changed in the country. But this was the goal of Maidan – to bring oligarchs to power and consolidate their position. Western puppet masters are behind this all.

February 24, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Euromaidan. 

The demonstrations that began in Kyiv in November 2013, called "Maidan" or "Euromaidan", emerged organically as a result of the Ukrainian people's frustration with former President Yanukovych's last-minute U-turn on the highly anticipated EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, which had been under negotiation for seven years. The protests were followed by Presidential and parliamentary elections.

Belarusian opposition makes “kill lists” and smuggles arms from Ukraine

The Belarusian opposition promotes fascism by making “kill lists” and smuggles arms from Ukraine.

February 24, 2020
Disproof

This is a conspiracy theory and ungrounded claims aimed at discrediting the pro-Western democratic Belarusian opposition. This disinformation message is a modification of a recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about Western attempts to organise a colour revolution in Belarus and destabilise the country.

See earlier disinformation cases alleging that the Belarusian opposition, civic activists and independent journalists make kill lists for Western security bodies, that the pro-Western Belarusian opposition prepares a revolution with the assistance of armed Ukrainian nationalists, and that the West has again ordered Belarusian opposition to take over power by force.

The Belarusian opposition plans to infect millions with coronavirus to disrupt presidential elections

The Belarusian opposition wishes to use the coronavirus epidemic to sow panic and destabilise Belarus. Coronavirus is the best tool for the opposition to weaken the state authorities, to prevent presidential elections, and to organise a coup.

To provoke public discontent, opposition members need millions of infected people and they would not hesitate to do it. Together with the Belarusian [Orthodox] Autocephalous Church, they hold prayer services glorifying God for sending coronavirus to end the Belarusian dictatorship. Coronavirus also allows them to criticise Russians for closing the borders with China and checking Belarusian citizens upon arrival to Russia.

February 24, 2020
Disproof

This is coronavirus-related conspiracy theory aimed to discredit the Belarusian democratic opposition and the Belarusian Orthodox Autocephalous Church.

See earlier conspiracy theories alleging that coronavirus will spread to Belarus when people in charge of the operation 'coronavirus' decide so and that the Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church is favoured by the West in order to organise a full-scale split from the Russian Orthodox Church and to disrupt Russian-Belarusian ties.