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Baltic states organize provocations against their Russian-speaking population

Summary

The Baltic countries have long been organising provocations against the Russian-speaking population living there to receive a reaction and then to immediately complain to Western allies about the “Russian threat”.

The promotion of a “Russian threat” helps the Baltic countries to achieve domestic and foreign political goals.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russophobia in the Baltic States. 

See similar previous disinformation cases: No freedom of speech in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia; Russophobia is the main export of Lithuania.

In 2018 Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia ranked respectively 14th, 20th and 23rd out of 162 states in the global Human Freedom Index, which, among other things, measures freedom of association, assembly, and civil society; freedom of expression and information;  freedom identity and relationships. Russia ranked 119th.

 

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  • Reported in: Issue 164
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 12/09/2019
  • Language/target audience: Russian
  • Country: Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania
  • Keywords: Anti-Russian, Russophobia
  • Outlet: Sputnik Lithuania
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Sanctions against Russia are not effective, Russian economy is developing better than the EU’s

When the US and EU introduced sanctions against Russia, they were so confident about their effectiveness that they began assuring each other about this. For instance, former US President Barack Obama stated that thanks to sanctions Russian economy “is torn apart”. A few years after the introduction of sanctions the Russian economy is developing faster than the European one.

September 16, 2019
Disproof

Although the EU's and US's sanctions against Russia were not aimed to ruin Russian economy and its performance is influenced by many other factors beyond sanctions, the claim about better performance of Russian economy under sanctions is not true.

In reality, sanctions imposed on Russia by the US and EU, following the annexation of Crimea and Russian meddling in the US election, have sapped Russian economic growth. The Russian economy has been performing worse during the whole period. In 2014 Russian GDP growth was as low as 0.7%. It decreased by 2,3% in 2015 and had modest revival afterwards with 0.3%, 1.6%, and 2.3% of growth during 2016-2018, the World Bank data shows. In contrast to Russia, during the same period, the EU's economy did not experience recessions and had annual GDP growth between 1.8% and 2.5%.

Serbia’s neighbours are drawn in the NATO despite the citizens’ will

Not all of Serbia’s neighbours are able to withstand external pressure. Despite the will of most citizens they are drawn into the North Atlantic Alliance’s orbit with its fictional security guarantees.

 

September 16, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation portraying NATO as an ambitiously expanding organisation. Countries can not be drawn into NATO because every country decides for itself if they want to join the Alliance or not. The NATO accession process consists of a series of formal steps which both the aspirant country and the Alliance continuously confirm. Countries wishing to join have to meet certain requirements and complete a multi-step process involving political dialogue and military integration.

Concerning a possible enlargement, four partner countries have declared their aspirations for NATO membership: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, the Republic of North Macedonia and Ukraine.

Goal of the US global “Anaconda” strategy is to limit the living space of geopolitical opponents

The goal of the US global “Anaconda” strategy is “to limit the living space of geopolitical opponents”, to provoke proxy wars and manipulate historical differences among regional players in South Caucasus.

September 16, 2019
Disproof

Conspiracy theory reinforcing recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about the US and its global role and on Western attempts to encircle Russia.

Anaconda plan was a military strategy proposed by Union General Winfield Scott early in the American Civil War. The plan called for a naval blockade of the Confederate littoral, thrust down the Mississippi, and the strangulation of the South by Union land and naval forces. Plan "Anaconda" has nothing to do with modern politics.

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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.