Disinfo: Missile defence system was deployed in Romania without permission

Summary

NATO became the tool of foreign policy for the US. Once the state becomes a NATO member, nobody is asking it for permission to deploy certain types of armament. This is how the missile defence system was deployed in Romania and the same is going to happen in Poland.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin narratives on NATO and US global role. This is an example of a narrative shift about the deployment of missile defence systems in Romania and Poland. Before, it was claimed that the US is deploying systems that are capable of launching Tomahawk-type cruise missiles, prohibited by the INF agreement. In fact, both Romania and Poland agreed to host missile defence systems. In 2010, Romania agreed to host Standard Missile 3 interceptor. As for Poland, Poland and the US signed agreement on the deployment of ground-based ballistic missile defence interceptors on the territory of Poland in 2008, but the project was cancelled following a fierce response from the Polish government. Instead, Aegis Ashore Ballistic Missile Defence System (AABMDS) will be deployed in an anti-missile station in Redzikowo, expected to be completed in 2020.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 169
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 13/10/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Romania, Poland
  • Keywords: Missile defence system, NATO
see more

Disinfo: Orthodox world splits over “Ukrainian question”

The [Orthodox Church of Ukraine] was created as a political tool needed for its backers to expand their influence and financial wealth. Agressive actions of the OCU undrmine the concept of the Orthodox Church as a traditional religious system [sic]. These agressive actions will apparently lead to a further split among the Orthodox Church [sic].

Disproof

No evidence given. Conspiracy theory and recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Western attempts to instigate revolutions in EU neighbourhood. Pro-Kremlin disinformation outlets have frequently attacked the establishment of an autocephalous Ukrainian church. This message is also consistent with a narrative about the West challenging traditional values. Similar cases, where traditional values in Europe are attacked via "sects", can be found here, here and here.

Disinfo: Latvia rewrites World War II history

Latvia is engaged in rewriting history, speaking out against the fireworks in honour of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Riga from Nazi invaders. Soviet troops liberated Riga from the Nazis on 13 October 1944, the victory of the USSR in the Great Patriotic War does not need to be rewritten, this is an historical fact.

Disproof

Another example of pro-Kremlin historical revisionism. More cases here. The Soviet Union occupied Latvia twice. The first time the occupation lasted a year. In the summer of 1940, when Nazi Germany attacked France, the Red Army occupied Riga. This was enabled through a secret protocol to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact on the separation of spheres of influence between the Soviet Union and fascist Germany. The second time, Soviet troops captured Latvia on 13 October 1944. Modern Latvia received full independence only after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In 2015, the Ministers of Justice of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia signed a joint declaration on the calculation and the need to receive compensation for damage caused by the occupation of the USSR. The Baltic States' leadership have repeatedly emphasised that Russia is the successor of the USSR, therefore, it has an obligation to compensate the Baltic countries for the losses incurred. Latvia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also emphasised that any events planned in Russia to celebrate the liberation of Riga from Nazi troops are unacceptable, because for the Baltic countries this "liberation" meant only a change from one occupying power to another, this one lasting 50 years.

Disinfo: The US has destabilised Eritrea to provoke massive migration flows to Europe

For the past 15 years the US government has deliberately destabilised Eritrea by supporting terrorism, proxy wars, regime-change and sanctions in order to provoke massive migration flows of young Eritreans to Europe. The US aims to empty Eritrea of young people in order to invade it more easily and to punish Eritrea for not agreeing to host a US military base in the Dahlak Islands. The following organisations are complicit in the US’s forced migration strategy in Eritrea: UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), George Soros’ Open Society Foundations, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch. These organisations attract ever-greater funding thanks to the increase in migrations flows of Africans towards Europe.

Disproof

Conspiracy theory. No evidence given. Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative blaming Western governments for deliberately provoking massive migration flows to Europe.