DISINFO: Slovakian Government Crisis orchestrated due to its purchase of Sputnik V
SUMMARY
And if Brussels allowed Hungary to buy Sputnik V willy-nilly, the second country which intended to buy Sputnik V, Slovakia, was not given that opportunity. Immediately after expressing a desire to buy the drug, a government crisis was organised so that Bratislava could understand who was the master.
RESPONSE
Disinformation which advances the pro-Kremlin claim that the EU punishes countries which buy the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. Besides being a part of Russian efforts to promote Sputnik V-vaccine, this narrative also fits into a broader pro-Kremlin narrative about “colour revolutions” allegedly promoted by the US or other Western actors to overthrow governments that are unwelcome to the West.
There is no evidence to support the claims that a government crisis was organised deliberately in Slovakia as a punishment for its purchase of Sputnik V.
The political crisis in Slovakia broke out after it had agreed to buy 2 million doses of Sputnik V vaccine and before the vaccine is approved by the European Medicines Agency. The deal was conducted despite disagreement by Prime Minister Matovic's coalition partners, the Freedom and Solidarity party and For People party. Two parties demanded his resignation. As the results of the demands, Prime Minister Igor Matovic and his government resigned.
See more examples of disinformation around Sputnik V, Sputnik V still not recognised in the EU due to a political component and the EU is unwilling to recognise vaccinations with Sputnik V and there is an ongoing disinformation campaign against Sputnik V vaccine in Slovakia.