Disinfo: Russia fully respects international law, in Crimea and elsewhere

Summary

Russia fully respects the norms of international law. If there are some who feel offended, Russia has nothing to beg pardon for. Russia does everything that meets the norms of international law and the United Nations Charter. Russia respects the right of peoples to self-determination, including that of ethnic minorities, whether in Crimea or another regions. Sanctions will be ineffective in putting pressure on both Russia and other countries that respect their history and identity.

Disproof

According to international law, Crimea is part of Ukraine. Russia violated international law, as well as the key principles of the European security framework, by illegally annexing the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol. On March 27th, 2014, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in which it stated that the referendum in Crimea was not valid and could not serve as a basis for any change in the status of the peninsula. Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, recognised on April 17th, 2015 that "our soldiers were deployed in Crimea to help the inhabitants express their opinion". Claiming that the sanctions against Russia are ineffective is another example of a recurrent pro-Kremlin narrative. In reality, sanctions imposed on Russia after the Crimea annexation and Russian meddling in the US elections sapped Russian economical growth. See more disinformation cases on Crimea here.

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publication/media

fr.sputniknews.com (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 146
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 21/04/2019
  • Outlet language(s) French
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Russia
  • Keywords: International Law, Crimea
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Disinfo: The West wants to set back Azerbaijan by 50 years

The West is keen to set back Azerbaijan by 50 years. It will try to stop Azerbaijan from transforming itself into a powerful, politically and economically developed, contemporary and great international authority.

Apr 20, 2019
Disproof

Conspiracy theory with no evidence. Consistent with pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about Nagorno-Karabakh. The European Union continues to support the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The European Union’s bilateral relations with Azerbaijan are based on the EU-Azerbaijan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in force since 1999. In February 2017, the EU and Azerbaijan began negotiations on a new framework agreement with Azerbaijan designed to give new impetus to political dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation. The EU continues to stress the importance of defending human rights and ensuring civil society and freedom of media, expression, and assembly in Azerbaijan.

Disinfo: The 2014 February uprising in Ukraine was a coup d'état

The 2014 February uprising in Ukraine known as Euromaidan was a coup d’état.

Apr 20, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the Euromaidan. The Euromaidan protests were a spontaneous reaction among large parts of Ukrainian population, ignited by the decision of former President Yanukovych not to sign the Association Agreement with the European Union in November 2013. The Maidan movement resonated with a widespread discontent with corruption and mismanagement under Yanukovych.

Disinfo: Crimea has become an integral part of Russia after a referendum held in March 2014

Crimea has become an integral part of Russia after a referendum held in March 2014, whose result confirmed that most of the inhabitants of Crimea and Sevastopol were in favour of reunification with Russia.

Apr 20, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative on the annexation of Crimea claiming that Crimean citizens chose to rejoin Russia through a legal referendum.

No international body recognises the so-called referendum held on the 16th of March 2014. On the 27th of February 2014, when the so-called referendum was announced, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which stated that the referendum in Crimea was not valid and could not serve as a basis for any change in the status of the peninsula. A year later Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted that the plan to annex Crimea was ordered weeks before the so-called referendum.