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Disinfo: Russian Federation did not attempt to influence the US presidential in 2016

Summary

The accusations against the Russian Federation of attempting to influence the presidential elections in the United States are false.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about "Russiagate". Before the Mueller report was published, Russian meddling in the 2016 election had already been established by US intelligence agencies. Robert Mueller’s report maintains that “the investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities”. Nevertheless, it states that Russian interference activities DID take place. As concluded earlier by the US intelligence community and by Mueller’s own inquiry “the investigation established that the Russian government perceived it would benefit from a Trump presidency and worked to secure that outcome, and that the Campaign expected it would benefit electorally from information stolen and released through Russian efforts”. For further information, please see here. For other cases about Russian interference in the US elections 2016, please see here:  

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publication/media

Sputnik Italia (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 150
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 14/05/2019
  • Language/target audience: Italian
  • Country: Russia, US
  • Keywords: election meddling, Robert Mueller, Democracy, Manipulated elections/referendum, Donald Trump, Elections

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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The West aims at cultivating anti-Russian sentiments in Belarus

The West wants to disrupt Belarus-Russia relations by promoting Belarusian nationalism similar to the Ukrainian model. It is reported that the US and Poland have stopped financing all human rights organisations in Belarus in exchange for a nationalistic course set by Alyaksandr Lukashenka. The most important news opportunities for the promotion of nationalistic Belarusian sentiments in the Belarusian society are the anniversary of the Belarusian Popular Republic, the Kurapaty memorial site, the construction of Belarusian nuclear power plant, and discrediting the Russian Orthodox Church. Public protests are in a way the Belarusian opposition’s form of reporting to the West.

May 20, 2019
Disproof

This message is a conspiracy consistent with most common Belarus-related pro-Kremlin narratives, that is about the West's attempts to stage a colour revolution in Belarus, to turn Belarus into an anti-Russian country, about Belarusian democratic opposition, civil society and independent media being subservient to the West, and that the Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church is favoured by the West in order to organise a full-scale split from the Russian Orthodox Church. Furthermore, the message mentions Kurapaty memorial site which has recently turned into another object of pro-Kremlin propaganda claiming that the West attempts to use the memorial to destabilize Belarus.  

EU’s political aim behind the Eastern Partnership Programme is to isolate Russia

The essence of the EU’s Eastern Partnership programme is to make its non-EU member states follow Brussels’ instructions on domestic policies and to go further away from Russia in their external relations. Closer economic cooperation with the EU for non-EU countries is only possible in exchange for political concessions. The reason behind the EU’s invitations to the Belarusian president, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, to the EaP summits were to have his signature on a joint anti-Russian declaration. Politically, the EU’s aim behind the Eastern Partnership is to isolate Moscow. Therefore, Belarus’ position to develop ties with both the EU and Russia is irrelevant for the EU.

May 20, 2019
Disproof

This message is consistent with pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about the West's, and in this case, the EU's intention to encircle Russia and the former’s attempts to bring discord in Belarusian-Russian relations. The Eastern Partnership programme aims to reinforce the political association and economic integration of six Eastern European and South Caucasus partner countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. It is not directed against any country, including Russia. Read more about the EaP's recent and ongoing activities.

In contrast to Russia, western Europe is abandoning Christian roots

Western Europe is moving away from its Christian roots. The western European society gets dominated by materialism and pursuit of money. Western Europeans are disappointed with the Christian church primarily because of the way of life of local priests, which is full of materialism and debauchery. European culture has abandoned Christianity, and is getting absorbed by Muslim migrants. In contrast, the Russian Orthodox Church has preserved the original Christian spirit. Eastern Slavs are more likely to sacrifice themselves and their lives for the others.

May 20, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative on the Islamisation of Europe, in line with a similar narrative on the morally decaying West. Despite the dropping levels of religious practice in Europe, the majority of western Europeans still identify themselves as Christians, a 2018 survey by the Pew Research Center shows. According to the same survey, 31% of western Europeans who identify themselves as Christians attend religious services at least monthly. At the same time one of the 2018 polls in Russia concluded that 17% of Russians who identify themselves as Orthodox Christians attend church at least monthly. See a collection of earlier disinformation cases concerning the Orthodox church.