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DISINFO: NATO is planning to invade Belarus
DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS
  • Outlet: Military International News (archived)*
  • Date of publication: October 24, 2018
  • Outlet language(s): Lithuanian
  • Reported in: Issue 127
  • Countries / regions discussed: Belarus, Lithuania
Tags:
NATO

DISINFO: NATO is planning to invade Belarus

SUMMARY

NATO military exercise Anakonda is an attempt to provoke Belarus and create a buffer zone on its territory.

RESPONSE

Disinformation that appeared when the Lithuanian news portal kaunas.kasvyksta.lt/ was hacked and an article accusing NATO of planning to occupy Belarus was planted. The article first appeared in an English language blog with imagery linking to a user-generated entertainment website. The news portal kaunas.kasvyksta.lt was hacked using the credentials of a former employee via foreign servers. The article has been removed as soon as the media outlet became aware of it. The outlet kaunas.kasvyksta.lt was also the first one to report its own hacking. At least 7 copies of the article were disseminated across other news outlets and social networks using both fake online personas and cyber activity. The content of the planted article revolves around a common pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative that NATO is a threat to Russia's security and is preparing to attack. Further debunking and information about the hacking: DFRlab and kaunas.kasvyksta.lt

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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.

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