Disinfo: NATO scientists synthesized Novichok in a lab in Brno, Czech Republic

Summary

Close to the Czech city of Brno, there is a lab where NATO scientists synthesised Novichok.

Disproof

No evidence given. Consistent with recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about the Skripal poisoning and the nerve agent that was used for it. For background: Novichok is known to be more powerful than VX and was developed in Russia in the 1970s and 1980s. It is so unusual that very few scientists outside of Russia have any real experience in dealing with it and no country outside of Russia is known to have developed the substance. See reports by CNN, BBC, the Guardian. In a statement, the EU expressed shock at the offensive use of a military-grade nerve agent, of a type developed by Russia, for the first time on European soil in over 70 years.

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  • Reported in: Issue 137
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 10/02/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Czech Republic
  • Keywords: novichok, Sergei Skripal, NATO
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Disinfo: Ukraine responsible for clash in Kerch sea

Kiev wants to make the Sea of Azov accessible to NATO forces and Ukraine could be responsible for the naval incident in the Straits of Kerch. Russia’s actions were entirely legitimate. According to the data of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), the Ukrainian ships had approached the Straits without any warning, had not waited for the Russian pilot and had not complied with the indications of the border guards, thus violating the legislation. The provocations may have continued throughout the day, leading the Russian side to open fire, injuring three Ukrainians and stopping the ships.

Feb 09, 2019
Disproof

The article is a complication of evidence provided by the Russian security services FSB. The story has been published here also. According to the research group Bellingcat, data, based on geolocated video footage, confirms that Ukrainian ships did enter Russian-claimed territorial waters (They are, in fact, only Russian-claimed territorial waters, rather than internationally recognised boundaries), both that of Crimea and mainland Russia in the Kerch Strait. Ukraine, nonetheless, argues this was legally permissible due to the 2003 agreement between the two countries. Secondly, we can say that the Ukrainian tug ‘Yani Kapu’ was intentionally rammed at least four times over a period of at least an hour. Thirdly, based on information provided by the Russian FSB which appears to incriminate themselves, the shooting of the ‘Berdyansk’ most likely took place in international waters. For details on the incident: see Bellingcat. See more disinfo cases on "The Ukrainian navy violated Russian borders" and debunk by Deutsche Welle

Disinfo: Large number of MEPs did not vote for anti-Maduro resolution

150 European Parliament members voted against a resolution that would impose sanctions and an ultimatum on Maduro and recognise a parallel president, who is the chairman of Parliament.

Feb 09, 2019
Disproof

Manipulated numbers, employed to promote a Russia-backed, pro-Maduro narrative on Venezuela. With a vast majority of 439 votes in support, to 104 against and 88 abstentions, the European Parliament on 31 January recognized Juan Guaido as the legitimate interim president until “new free, transparent and credible presidential elections can be called in order to restore democracy.” The same resolution also reiterated the European Parliament’s full support for the National Assembly and condemned “fierce” repression and violence.

Disinfo: US Chief of Naval Operations pushing for military confrontation with Russia and China

America’s Chief of Naval operations, Admiral John Richardson, advocates making the first move against Russian and Chinese ships in areas like the Azov Sea and the South China Sea, which could trigger a nuclear war.

Feb 09, 2019
Disproof

Speaking about a "first move", the Admiral's remark was as follows: “This gets back to that question about conceptual agility in terms of what are not only our responses in pushing back but about how we push first in a couple of areas. I think it would be great if we could get folks, Russians, some of these competitors to respond to our first move. There's an advantage every now and then to playing the white side of the board". See the recording of the Atlantic Council event (minute 52:47). US warmongering and desire for military confrontation are a common pro-Kremlin narrative. Other recent examples can be found here and here.