Disinfo: PACE will be destroyed without Russia

The best known intergovernmental election observations body, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), has several criteria of transparency of the elections. The election day and the final result is only one of them. For example, the equal access to the media is monitored by the long-term observation mission. According to these criteria, in its preliminary findings OSCE resumes: "The 2019 presidential election in Ukraine was competitive and held with respect for fundamental freedoms. The orderly transfer of power should offer the opportunity for strengthening democratic institutions and their accountability, although the campaign for both rounds lacked genuine discussion of issues of public concern". As for Russia, OSCE concluded that “the 18 March 2018 presidential election took place in an overly controlled legal and political environment marked by continued pressure on critical voices, while the CEC administered the election efficiently and openly". No evidence given that Ukraine "matches the American and European interest". It is a recurring disinformation narrative - see previous examples here, here, here and here.

This message is consistent with recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about Western anti-Russian activities, in this case activities by Western media directed against Russian oil giant Rosneft. The mentioned Reuters publication was indeed corrected and an editorial note said Reuters "could not determine payments were made under the proposed arrangement.” It also removed a reference to Evrofinance Mosnarbank and clarified that “experts see no violation of sanctions.” In a press release on 19 April 2019, Rosneft said "Reuters stopped its activities as information agency and media outlets" and accused Reuters in "systematic spread of disinformation" to damage Russia economy and state. It also said Rosneft plans to turn to law enforcement agencies "to prevent the pseudo-agency's illegal activities in Russia." While acknowledging initial Reuters erroneous reporting, the allegations about regular fakes by Reuters are ungrounded exaggeration and claims about Western anti-Rosneft campaign amount to conspiracy. Authoritative western media do not run coordinated campaigns against specific Russian companies and are not dictated by western political powers. A high degree of media freedom in Western countries is reflected in the top ranks that Western countries occupy in respective world rankings including World Press Freedom Index by Reporters without Borders.