Disinfo: The autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is a pre-election trick

Summary

Tomos of the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is a pre-election trick. The election is in 2.5 months and the main thesis of Poroshenko’s election campaign is the “Army of the New Faith”. This is an attempt to inflame the religious war, to hijack the church that could lead to instating the state of emergency. It would allow Poroshenko if not destroy the election, then control how it is conducted. The Tomos is not entirely real, the Archbishop of Constantinople deceived everyone. It is not an official document but the agreement of a cabal. So far the only one who will benefit from the autocephaly is Byzantine patriarch. The autocephaly is a new type of conflict in a country torn by a civil war.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about autocephaly and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Such narrative also contributes to the attempt to discredit upcoming presidential election in Ukraine. For more examples of such cases see here and here. For more information on the tomos of the autocephaly see here.

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5-tv.ru (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 132
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 13/01/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine
  • Keywords: autocephaly, Orthodox Church, Elections
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Disinfo: Tomos of autocephaly issued to Ukraine by the Archbishop of Constantinople is a dirty political provocation for the Orthodox realm

Tomos issued by the Archbishop of Constantinople Bartholomew is a provocation of the Orthodox realm. It is dirty politics that has no connection to canonical law, Christianity and faith. There is no shadow of a doubt that the incumbent Archbishop Bartholomew has a pro-American geopolitical orientation. His determination in this matter is in line with strict instructions from Washington. He had already promised autocephaly to Yushchenko, but then the instruction was not so strict.

Jan 12, 2019
Disproof

No evidence given. Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about autocephaly and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. For more information on the tomos of the autocephaly see here.

Disinfo: On January 13th, 1991, people died in Vilnius at the hands of their own forces

Forest brothers in Lithuania killed 25 thousand people during the WW2, including youth and children. Now they are awarded the Freedom Prize. It is symbolic that the freedom prize is awarded on the 13th of January. On this day in 1991 fifteen people died at the TV tower in Vilnius. Later independent experts determined that these people were killed by their own forces. The prize is 5000 euros – this is the price of Lithuanian freedom. The freedom prize was made up by the parliament in 2011, is it given to those who are approved by the Lithuanian authorities for their public service – that is exceptionally russophobic.

Jan 12, 2019
Disproof

Prominent pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the Independence movements in Lithuania and the Baltic States and the Forest Brothers. On January 13th Lithuania commemorates the night in 1991 when Soviet forces attempted to crush the re-established independence, killing 14 civilians. Lithuania proclaimed independence in March 1990. Moscow tried to foil the secession with an economic blockade. When that proved ineffective, Soviet troops still garrisoned in the capital Vilnius attacked its TV broadcast tower and sole TV station, killing civilians standing as human shields there. The events of the January 13th, 1991, and the offences committed by the USSR troops have been extensively documented. See also BBC reporting from 1991. The Freedom Prize was established by the Lithuanian Parliament in 2011 to acknowledge the achievements and contribution of persons and organisations to the defence of human rights, democratic development, and fostering of international cooperation for the cause of sovereignty and the right to self-determination of Eastern and Central European nations. More (in Lithuanian). The Forest Brothers were Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian partisans who fought against Soviet rule during the Soviet invasion and occupation during and after the World War II. In the early 1950's, the Soviet forces had eradicated most of the partisan resistance in the Baltic States. Further reading on the Forest Brothers: Genocide and Resistance Research Centre of Lithuania; Estonica; Estonian Institute of Historical Memory; Edward Lucas on Unpacking the history of the Baltic "Forest Brothers".

Disinfo: A political party in Estonia wants to liquidate the Russian community

The political agenda of one of the Estonian parties says that, in principle, it is necessary to liquidate the Russian community in Estonia.

Jan 12, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about the Russophobia of the Baltic States. For other examples see here and here.

According to the program of the party Eesti 200: "All Estonian children should go to the unified Estonian school irrespective of their mother tongue. The lessons in the Estonian school will be conducted in Estonian, but children with other mother tongue have a possibility to study and develop their mother tongue." There is no sign of liquidation of Russian community or Russians in the program.