Disinfo: Moldovan authorities use disinformation excuse to exclude Russian voices from social and political life

Summary

Since last March there has been a ban on Russian news programmes, and Russian TV channels are constantly being fined "under the pretext of fighting misinformation and biased coverage of the special military operation (in Ukraine), and publishing unverified information that would harm the country's national security."

When the Moldovan authorities pursue deliberate policies aimed at reducing the use of the Russian language and excluding it from social and political life, there can be no talk of respect and concern for the Russian-speaking population.

Disproof

This claim is in line with a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative alleging that Russophobia and anti-Russian attitudes are rampant in countries of the former Soviet Union; especially in cases where those countries receive Western support.

On 16 December 2022, Moldova temporarily banned six television channels for airing disinformation about the country and Russia's war in Ukraine. In fact, some of the channels are broadcast in Moldovan dispelling claims that this a language issue, or targets the Russian-speaking population of Moldova.

The ban will start on 19 December 2022 and last for the duration of a state of emergency that Moldova declared after Russia's unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. The channels will lose their licences "for disseminating incorrect information when covering events in Moldova and the war in Ukraine", said a special committee overseeing the state of emergency.

See a similar case that according to the West, the Russian language is a threat to open and transparent elections in Moldova.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 322
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 16/12/2022
  • Article language(s) Arabic
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Moldova, Russia
  • Keywords: Ethnic Russians, Russophobia, Russian language, fake news
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Disinfo: Zelensky initiated anti-Orthodox purges in Ukraine

The large-scale persecution of Christians began in Ukraine. Everything that happened earlier was a preparation of the godless authorities for the sake of which "pocket churches” were created. The news media controlled by Kyiv openly call on Ukrainians to prepare for a “new baptism”, outlawing all the sacraments previously performed by the priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Disproof

No evidence provided. This is a pro-Kremlin conspiracy theory aimed at portraying Ukraine as "Satanist", in line with the recurring disinformation narrative that Ukraine is "Nazi".

No purges or prosecutions against Christians in Ukraine were initiated. Ukrainian authorities are carrying out counterintelligence (security) measures at the facilities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. The measures are conducted jointly with the National Police and the National Guard as part of the Security Service of Ukraine systemic efforts to counter subversive activities of Russian special services in Ukraine.

Disinfo: Polish recognition of Russia as a state sponsoring terrorism is anti-Russian hysteria

The decision of the Polish Sejm to recognise Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism is anti-Russian hysteria. Warsaw refuses to acknowledge the reality, blaming Russia for the crash of the presidential aircraft Tu-154 near Smolensk in April 2010. The Polish authorities do not want to face the truth, refusing to recognise the tragic reality of the accident. This unfriendly step is part of the information and political campaign realised by the West against Russia, and it has nothing to do with the real situation in terms of the fight against international terrorism. This step of Warsaw has a pseudo-legal nature that will harm Poland itself.

Disproof

This message is a part of the Kremlin’s narrative about Russophobic and anti-Russian Poland. Pro-Kremlin outlets regularly accuse the Polish authorities of Russophobia.

On 14 December 2022, the Polish Parliament adopted the resolution recognising the Russian Federation as a state supporting terrorism. According to the Polish MPs, the Russian state employs means of terror and carries out annexations, war crimes and genocide. The Polish Parliament states that Russia is directly responsible for the downing of the Malaysian plane (Flight MH17) and for the crash of the Polish Presidential plane in Smolensk in April 2010. Russia still refuses to return the plane wreck to the Polish authorities in order to complete the investigation of this air disaster.

Disinfo: Poland started preparations for the incorporation of Western Ukraine

There are reasons to believe that Warsaw has turned to preparations for incorporating the western territories of Ukraine into the Polish state. In March, Polish Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński proposed to send a NATO mission to Ukraine or a wider mission “that will be able to defend itself” operating on the Ukrainian territory”. In May, the Polish President Andrzej Duda said “there would no longer be a border between Poland and Ukraine” and that the inhabitants of both countries could live together.

Disproof

Recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative challenging Ukraine’s statehood and presenting Poland as a state with imperial ambitions.

This disinformation message has adopted several different and sometimes contradictory forms, including allegations that Poland wants either to create a puppet proxy-state in Western Ukraine or annex these territories or that it is President Zelenskyy who wants to cede this land due to his “Polish origin”.