Disinfo: New language law in Ukraine discriminates against the Russian language and Russian-speaking population

Summary

The aim of the law is not to strengthen the functioning of the Ukrainian language or to protect it as the only state language, but to discriminate against Russian and the languages of national minorities.

People will be deprived of the right to speak the language they are used to by a punitive law.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Ukraine and discrimination against Russian speakers.

The new language law (The Law on the Functioning of Ukrainian as a State Language) is still in a draft phase. The draft says that Ukrainian is the only state language and defines the spheres of life where Ukrainian is necessary. Yet, it specifically says that people are free to choose what language they want to speak. The draft law, inter alia, proposes that any language, other than Ukrainian, can be used in schools, hospitals, other cultural and social institutions. It also says that along with Ukrainian, media outlets and Internet websites can use other languages, nevertheless, priority is given to Ukrainian.

The law does not define what language is to be used in private conversations.

Previous debunk on this case is here.

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Reported in: Issue 141
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 12/03/2019
Language/target audience: Russian, Ukrainian
Country: Ukraine
Keywords: Ukraine, Russian language
Outlet: 112 TV Channel @ 0:46-1:07 and 1:15-1:34

There is no evidence of Russian attempts to influence the 2019 EU elections

There is no evidence of Russian attempts to influence the EU parliamentary elections in May 2019.

The European establishment needs fake news about “external interference” in order to draw voters’ attention to the upcoming elections and mobilise them.

With such advance declarations, the mainstream media tries to justify a possible defeat and the victory of the Eurosceptics. The latter could actually claim the formation of a strong group in the future European Parliament. If that happens, the elites will need someone to blame. Russia is already identified as the culprit.

March 13, 2019

Disproof

According to the latest annual threat assessment by the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service, NBC News reports, "Russian intelligence services will continue the extensive cyber-espionage campaign against the West that they have pursued for years, with the military intelligence service, called the GRU, and Russia's spy agency, the Federal Security Service (FSB) directing most operations".

The Director General of the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service, Mikk Marran, says that Russia will target the European parliamentary elections in May with a likely focus on the larger member states — Germany, France and Italy.

US Senate: no ties between Donald Trump and Moscow

In February, the US Senate announced the absence of “ties” between the American leader Donald Trump and Moscow. The Commission responsible for the investigation could not reveal any facts or evidence of the alleged collusion of Donald Trump’s campaign headquarters with Russia in 2016.

March 13, 2019

Disproof

This statement is a recurring Kremlin narrative that was already debunked. RT, once again, used claims, not supported by the CBS report.

More disinformation cases on Russian interference in US election here.

Russia is not interfering in the EU elections

There are no examples confirming the alleged “sharp activation” of Russian hackers from Russia targeting the European elections, none are given. If European politicians had some information, it would be logical to share it.

March 12, 2019

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the EU elections 2019 and election meddling.

In January, Microsoft found that a group of hackers called Fancy Bear targeted email accounts of European think tanks and NGOs as well as political opponents of Russian president Vladimir Putin. The group, believed to be associated with the Russian intelligence, were spreading messages aimed at disrupting upcoming elections.