Disinfo: Medvedchuk case is political, foreigners ordered Ukraine to cut links with Russia and Belarus

Summary

Pro-Kremlin politician Viktor Medvedchuk was put under suspicion for high treason on orders from abroad. Foreign countries force Ukraine to oust those who communicate with Russia and Belarus. Medvedchuk was making peacekeeping efforts, and his role was a stabilising one for Ukrainian politics. The fact that people like him are being removed means that the Ukrainian authorities are nervous.

Disproof

This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin media outlets claiming that the West compels the Ukrainian leadership to cut all relations with Russia and that the recent legal action against pro-Kremlin politician Viktor Medvedchuk was a political case orchestrated from Western countries. In reality, these allegations are unsubstantiated.

Ukraine and Russia maintain relations in certain spheres, first and foremost where prisoner exchange is concerned. Russia is a party to the Donbas conflict, so Ukraine prefers to discuss the liberation of its citizens with it rather than with its proxies in Donbas. It would mean recognition of the so-called “DNR” and “LNR” as political subjects.

Viktor Medvedchuk is regarded as the most prominent agent of Russian influence in Ukraine. He is a close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is godfather to Medvedchuk’s daughter. Putin and Ukrainian pro-Kremlin politicians hold Medvedchuk in high esteem for his continual attempts to coerce Ukraine into accepting Russian conditions concerning a peaceful settlement in Donbas. Legal action against him is not a political case. Suspicion of high treason was announced on 11 May 2021; Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova said at a news conference:

"Medvedchuk, as the organiser of all this illegal activity, having strong ties with the leadership of the Russian Federation, began, according to the investigation, subversive activities against Ukraine, including in the economic sphere."

Investigative journalists published records of allegedly his telephone conversations with Russian top officials and separatist leaders.

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  • Reported in: Issue 245
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 19/05/2021
  • Article language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine, Russia, Belarus
  • Keywords: Ukrainian statehood, War in Ukraine
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May 18, 2021
Disproof

This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin media outlets, claiming that Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine is much better and more efficacious than any foreign ones, which is why the European Union is fighting against it. In reality, there is no evidence of EU bias against the Russian vaccine or that EU officials are blocking its certification. What is more, EMA Executive Director Emer Cooke, said she hoped the Sputnik V vaccine would be approved. For that EMA is conducting a rolling review including with a visit to Russian facilities.

The EMA has certified four vaccines so far. The rolling review of Sputnik V was launched on 4 March 2021. Pro-Kremlin media often quote an article in The Lancet magazine, which showed 91.6 per cent effectiveness of Sputnik V without considerable side effects. However, there have been some doubts as to its efficacy, especially where the trial procedures are concerned (see here and here.) Recently, in the Lancet article published 12 May 2021 critical questions about the Sputnik V data for phase III clinical trial were raised.

Disinfo: Western sanctions are illegal and hostile actions

Russia perceives Western sanctions as illegal and sometimes hostile. Rejection of Western politics by Russian citizens can turn into hatred, this must be avoided.

"We perceive them (sanctions) as illegal, rather aggressive, and sometimes even hostile actions. These sanctions, of course, affect the consciousness of the population, ordinary citizens, and Russians. But how do they act? First, any threat unites the nation. Our citizens understand that this is a threat. From year to year, we have noticed an increase in rejection by Russian citizens of Western policy towards Russia. This is very significant. And it would be very bad if this rejection turned into hatred. This is what you need to beware of."

May 18, 2021
Disproof

Recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about West's aggressive Russophobic policy of sanctions, framing them as unjustified measures against Russia.

Restrictive measures are a key tool of EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy which, by virtue of Article 29 of the Treaty of the EU, can be used to defend its strategic interests and protect its fundamental goals overseas. Other international actors have the right to impose them under international law as well under certain conditions.

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In fact, the adventure launched by Kyiv, Tbilisi and Chisinau cannot be called anything other than blackmail against their European allies.

The "associated trio" - Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, will exert moral pressure on European allies in the hope that they will have mercy and accept them into the EU. The United States is another matter, which needs just such a pugnacious and fanged group of countries along the entire perimeter of the state borders of the Russian Federation. The same notorious "Anaconda loop", with the help of which Washington hopes to squeeze Moscow in a vice.

And there is little doubt that the "Associated Trio" project was literally nurtured in the offices of the administration of the current President Joe Biden.

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Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the US presence in Europe, its actions aimed at encircling Russia, presenting every cooperation action for European integration, especially by the countries of the former Soviet Union, as actions against Russia.

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