Disinfo: Theresa May Uses the Skripal Case Whenever it is Necessary to Distract Attention from Brexit and other Failures

Summary

Whenever the Brexit process runs in to complications or political failures of Theresa May is discussed, one can wait for news on the Skripal Case. This way the British Prime Minister attempts to deflect criticism in the UK and attract sympathy from the EU.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the Salisbury poisoning.

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Petr Tolstoy Vremya Pokazhet - YouTube
Petr Tolstoy Vremya Pokazhet - YouTube
  • Reported in: Issue 133
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 15/01/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: UK
  • Keywords: Sergei Skripal, Brexit
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Disinfo: The Ukrainian navy violated Russian borders in the Azov Sea

On November 25, three ships of the Ukrainian navy violated Russian borders in the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait. They were carrying out dangerous manoeuvrers, ignoring the legitimate demands of the Russian authorities.

Jan 14, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about Ukraine violating Russian territorial integrity in the Sea of Azov. The use of the Kerch strait and the Sea of Azov is regulated by a bilateral treaty between Russia and Ukraine, signed in 2003 and ratified by Russia in 2004. According to the document, the Sea of Azov is considered to be the “internal waters” of both Russia and Ukraine. On November 25 border patrol boats belonging to Russia’s FSB security service seized two small Ukrainian armoured artillery vessels and a tug boat and their crews after opening fire at them, wounding several Ukrainian servicemen.

Disinfo: FYROM is forced by foreign countries to access NATO and change its name

Name change of FYROM is another step on the route to accessing NATO. The NATO accession is forced by foreign countries and so is the artificial name change.

Jan 14, 2019
Disproof

The name change is part of the political process, subject to international negotiations and internal debate in FYROM. Settlement of this issue is indeed linked with the country's NATO and EU accession. FYROM expressed its own will to join the Euro-Atlantic community already in 1993 and has been working towards the membership of NATO (and the EU) ever since. For background, see the information provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here.

Disinfo: There has never been Russian forces in Ukraine, Russia is not a party in the conflict in Ukraine, it is a civil war

There are no and never has been Russian armed forces in southern and eastern Ukraine. (35:40) Russia is not a party in the conflict in Ukraine, it is a civil war. (39:50)

Jan 14, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation about the war in Ukraine. It was Russia that provoked a war in Ukraine, and it is not a civil war. The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has stated that “the information available suggests that the situation within the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol amounts to an international armed conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. This international armed conflict began at the latest on 26 February when the Russian Federation deployed members of its armed forces to gain control over parts of the Ukrainian territory without the consent of the Ukrainian Government https://www.icc-cpi.int/iccdocs/otp/161114-otp-rep-PE_ENG.pdf The European Union stated in July 2014 that "arms and fighters continue flowing into Ukraine from the Russian Federation". http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/144158.pdf At the NATO Summit in Wales in September 2014, NATO leaders condemned in the strongest terms Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine and demanded that Russia stop and withdraw its forces from Ukraine and along the country’s border. NATO leaders also demanded that Russia comply with international law and its international obligations and responsibilities; end its illegitimate occupation of Crimea; refrain from aggressive actions against Ukraine; halt the flow of weapons, equipment, people and money across the border to the separatists; and stop fomenting tension along and across the Ukrainian border. http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/topics_50090.htm# According to the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Russian special forces and troops operated to mobilize, lead, equip, and support separatist militias in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine from spring 2014 to the present, although their presence was denied by Moscow. http://www.dia.mil/Portals/27/Documents/News/Military%20Power%20Publications/Russia%20Military%20Power%20Report%202017.pdf?ver=2017-06-28-144235-937 Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted Russia's military presence in Ukraine in 2015. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/17/vladimir-putin-admits-russian-military-presence-ukraine