Disinfo: Pro-Western Belarusian opposition prepares a revolution with assistance of armed Ukrainian nationalists

Summary

The Belarusian opposition is planning a revolution, pro-Western forces stand behind the protests. The Belarusian authorities have to act decisively, and they should have done this immediately after protests against the Union State between Belarus and Russia started. In contrast to the opposition’s will, the integration process with Russia should be accelerated. Belarus should also adopt Russian experience on combatting nationalists. If all these measures are taken, then the Belarusian presidential elections will be smooth, without involving armed Ukrainian nationalists. Belarus should also not allow the opposition to organise mass demonstrations, otherwise it will attract the attention of the international community and provoke a conflict. Finally, the Belarusian authorities should not play with those Europeans who support the Belarusian opposition. The blogger NEXTA, Andrei Sannikau and other opposition activists should be extradited to Belarus and recognised as enemies of the people.

Disproof

This is a conspiracy and contains ungrounded claims about the plans to stage an armed revolution, aimed to discredit the democratic Belarusian opposition, the West, and any actors which oppose deeper integration within the Union State between Belarus and Russia. This disinformation message is a modification of a recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about Western attempts to organise a colour revolution in Belarus and to disrupt Belarusian-Russian relations. See earlier disinformation cases alleging that Belarusian opposition leader Andrei Sannikau prepares a coup with US military assistance, that the West has again ordered Belarusian opposition to take over power by force, that the Belarusian opposition, civic activists and independent journalists make kill lists for Western security bodies, and that the West's only interest in Belarus is to make it anti-Russian.

Go to search

publication/media

Podneprovie (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 176
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 25/11/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Belarus, Russia
  • Keywords: Union State of Belarus and Russia, West, Colour revolutions, Conspiracy theory
see more

Disinfo: Ukraine does not fulfil key point of Minsk agreements on negotiations with "LDNR"

The Ukrainian government does not fulfil the key requirement of the Minsk agreements on direct negotiations with the leadership of the LNR and the DNR.

Nov 24, 2019
Disproof

This is a common Kremlin narrative that Ukraine refuses to implement the Minsk agreements. Since 2014, negotiations with Russia to resolve the conflict in the Donbas have been held within the framework of the Normandy format and the Minsk process. A special Trilateral contact group is working on a peaceful settlement of the situation in Donbas. Three parties are involved in this process: representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE. Unofficially, representatives of the "LDNR" factions are also present. The second set of measures to implement the Minsk agreements was signed on 12 February 2015. The first paragraph of the document relates to an immediate ceasefire. Next, it is necessary to withdraw heavy weapons, ensure OSCE monitoring, release prisoners, grant Donbas special status and hold local elections, amnesty the parties to the conflict and restore control over the Ukrainian-Russian border in the conflict zone. There are no conditions that the Ukrainian authorities should conduct direct negotiations with the leaders of the "LDNR" factions in the Minsk agreements.

Disinfo: Ukraine is governed from abroad and has lost its territories because of "Russophobia"

Today Ukraine is governed from abroad as it betted on Russophobia and as a result lost its industry, Crimea, thousands of people, and is losing Donbas.

Nov 24, 2019
Disproof

A recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation about Ukraine, the war in Ukraine and the sovereignty of Ukraine. Ukraine is recognised in international law as a sovereign nation-state, with its own flag, nationality, language and with a democratically-elected president and parliament. Ukraine is not controlled by any foreign government, while its sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected by most of the free world but have been violated by acts of aggression by the Russian armed forces since February 2014.

Disinfo: The US and EU control Ukraine

Ukraine never existed as an independent state. The country is under external control.

Nov 24, 2019
Disproof

Another conspiracy theory that the United States and the European Union control Ukraine’s foreign and domestic policies.

Ukraine is an independent state whose sovereignty is respected both in the EU and in the USA. The United States recognised Ukraine as an independent state on December 25, 1991. Since then, Washington has been working closely with Ukraine, directing its assistance to support the development of a safe, democratic, prosperous and free Ukraine, fully integrated into the Euro-Atlantic community. The European Union also supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. Ukraine is a priority partner for the EU. In June 2014, the EU and Ukraine signed an Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, which promotes deeper political ties, stronger economic links and the respect for common values.