Disinfo: The Economist editor thinks that the UN will come to an end soon due to its dubious policy

Summary

The world is rebelling against hegemony: the UN and the US are doomed to its liquidation. The editor of The Economist, Daniel Franklin, thinks that the UN as an organisation will come to an end soon because it pursues a very dubious policy.

Disproof

This is a deliberate distortion of the original article of Daniel Franklin in The Economist about the future of the UN. In his text, Franklin never stated the sentence attributed to him. His exact words are that “It is surely too soon to give up on […] the UN and the collaborative global governance it embodies [though] to retain its clout and character the liberal order needs restored leadership and difficult reforms”. This is very different than saying that “the UN will come to an end soon because it pursues a very dubious policy”, so the claim that Franklin affirmed it is an outright lie. Pro-Kremlin media frequently resort to this manipulative technique of quoting sentences from serious publications and then introduce a distorted message as if it was part of the original article, in this case to promote a recurrent disinformation narrative about an imminent collapse of a US-led liberal order. See other examples in our database, such as false claims that British outlet The Guardian pointed out to ruling elite as the real instigators of the racial crisis in the US and reported that the EU remained silent as the Europeans couldn’t buy food for the first time in 75 years; that Newsweek magazine explained how US coup in Iran will end; that Soros’ structures in media and think tanks saw an opportunity in the coronavirus pandemic to attack the “bad guys”; that the US National Counterintelligence and Security Centre put Wikileaks at the same threat level as jihadist organisations in its last report; or that the US special envoy for Syria admitted that Washington’s goal was to defend terrorists from Russian attacks.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 207
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 21/07/2020
  • Outlet language(s) Spanish
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: US
  • Keywords: Mainstream media, UN
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Disinfo: Armenia has blocked broadcasting from Russia

Armenia blocked broadcasting from Russia. Armenian parliament nevertheless adopted a scandalous law on broadcasting in a foreign language. Parliament voted to ban the free broadcasting of Russian TV channels in Armenia. The rationale for the adoption of such a law is almost classical for post-Soviet limitrophes – the National Commission on Television and Radio Broadcasting believes that these channels are no less a threat to Armenia’s national security. Of course, this is an act of cleansing the country’s information space from Russian influence. Or even the act of clearing out for something new? This we will see in the nearest future.

Disproof

A manipulative statement, accusing Armenian authorities of being Russophobic and Anti-Russian. Misinterpretation of the "Audiovisual Media Law" of the Republic of Armenia. Armenia did not block Russian channels, the Law is regulating the broadcasting in foreign languages, including Russian in public multiplex only. It does not mean a ban on the broadcasting of Russian TV companies in Armenia and leaves both states the opportunity to conclude intergovernmental agreements to ensure broadcasting of Russian channels through the public multiplex of Armenia. The new law regulates the public multiplex, where foreign broadcasters can broadcast only under the interstate or intergovernmental or international agreements. For example, Russian MIR TV is broadcasting under the intergovernmental agreement. There is no talk about shutting down hundreds of foreign broadcasters that are available on cable networks, satellites, it is only about a public multiplex. The purpose of the law is to broadcast programmes in the state language, to promote a state agenda, preserve the national identity, language and culture in the free public multiplex.

There is no country in the world, including Russia itself, where there are foreign channels in the public multiplex.

Disinfo: Russia does not interfere in other countries sovereign affairs

Russia has never been a colonial country. Also, Russia has never known what is called looting of foreign countries. Our foreign policy is based on respect for international law and does not accept attempts to dominate, dictate the will of others over independent countries, nor interfere in the affairs of their sovereignty.

Disproof

Recurrent narrative praising peaceful Russia and its superiority over other countries.

Russia has a long track-record in interfering with other countries' sovereign affairs.

Disinfo: Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada admitted that Kyiv will not implement the Minsk agreements

The chairman of the Verkhovna Rada admitted that Kyiv is not going to implement the Minsk agreements. The Verkhovna Rada will not make any changes to the Constitution of Ukraine on the proposal of other countries, even if it is foreseen by the Minsk agreements and is necessary to end the war in Donbas. This was stated by Chairman of the Ukrainian parliament Dmitro Razumkov during a press conference. The head of the Rada replied that adding amendments, which are envisaged by the Minsk agreements, to the fundamental law of Ukraine is not even a subject to discussion.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the war in Ukraine and the Minsk Agreements. The Chairman of the Ukrainian parliament Dmitro Razumkov did not say that Kyiv is not going to implement the Minsk agreements. Speaking at a press conference in the Verkhovna Rada, Razumkov stated that Russia cannot dictate to Ukraine how to change Ukrainian laws: “I think that only the Ukrainian people, society, the Verkhovna Rada, MPs, the president, and other institutions that work for the benefit of our country can require amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine." Razumkov also added that a lot of work regarding Ukrainian legislation still has to be done in order to return the temporarily occupied territories. The implementation of the agreements remains one of the key priorities of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Since 2014, negotiations with Russia to resolve the conflict in the Donbas have been held within the framework of the Normandy Format and the Minsk process. A special Trilateral contact group is working on a peaceful settlement of the Donbas situation. Three parties are involved in this process: representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE. Unofficially, representatives of the "LDNR" factions are also present.