Disinfo: The Giedroyc Doctrine is an edition of the Polish imperialism

Summary

The Giedroyc policy is an edition of the Polish imperialism. It tries to pull into the Polish sphere of influence a country [Belarus], which is a natural part of the Russian culture and which is connected to Russia with historical, cultural and ethnic ties. This is done in order to establish a buffer zone between Poland and Russia.

Disproof

This message is part of the Kremlin’s policy of historical revisionism and an attempt to blame Poland in having an imperialist policy towards Ukraine and Belarus.

The Giedroyc Doctrine is a political doctrine developed by a well-known Polish publicist Jerzy Giedroyć in the post-war decades. This Doctrine was aimed at the establishment of good relations of Poland with its neighbours through the rejection of any imperial ambitions and territorial claims against its eastern neighbours, the acceptation of the post-war borders, full support for the independence of Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania. The Doctrine called on both Poland and Russia to abandon their struggle over the domination of other East European countries. In other words, the Giedroyc Doctrine fully rejects any Imperialist ideas. The Eastern policy of Poland after 1989 has been largely based on the Gierdoyc Doctrine – Poland fully supports the independence and territorial integrity of Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine and stands for the development of a strategic partnership with these countries.

The very statement that “Belarus is a natural part of the Russian culture” is a clear manifestation of the Russian Imperialist concept.

Read other examples of the Russian historical revisionism concerning this issue - Signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact thwarted the UK’s expansionist plans in Europe, The Molotov-Ribbentrop pact did not violate the rights of the Polish state, the shift of all blame for WWII outbreak at the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact the best example of manipulation of history.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 186
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 13/02/2020
  • Outlet language(s) Polish
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Poland, Belarus, Lithuania, Ukraine, Russia
  • Keywords: Historical revisionism, Imperialism/colonialism, Anti-Russian, Encircling Russia, Russophobia
see more

Disinfo: There is no accurate list of victims who were killed during NATO bombing of Yugoslavia

There is no accurate list of all the victims even after 20 years since the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. Estimates are that during the NATO bombing, between 1,500 and 2,500 people died and about 6,000 were injured. However, none made a list of their names.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the number of civilian casualties of NATO bombing, previously debunked by Polygraph, and war in former Yugoslavia, aiming to portray NATO's bombing in Yugoslavia as more devastating and to demonise NATO's actions during the Yugoslav war. The Sputnik article presents no source of the quoted number of killed civilians.

According to the Humanitarian Law Center, in Serbia (excluding Kosovo) and Montenegro, 275 persons lost their lives in the NATO bombings: 180 civilians, 90 members of the Yugoslav Armed Forces and five members of the Ministry of Interior of Serbia. In Kosovo, 484 people were killed: 267 civilians (209 Albanian and 58 non-Albanian), 171 members of the YA, 20 members of the Serbian MUP and 26 members of the KLA (19 of whom died in the NATO bombing of the Dubrava prison, near Istok).

Disinfo: Crimea is a Russian region

Crimea is a Russian region; in light of current development programmes, any proposal to supply water to [Crimea] on a commercial or a non-commercial basis can be considered.

Disproof

This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea.

Crimea is not Russian but was illegally annexed by Moscow based on an illegitimate referendum. On 27 March 2014, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in which it stated that the referendum in Crimea was not valid and could not serve as a basis for any change in the status of the peninsula. On 17th December 2018, the UN General Assembly confirmed its non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea.

Disinfo: The conflict in Donbas is an internal Ukrainian problem

For Donbas, this is an internal Ukrainian problem, and we [Russia] are doing everything we can to contribute to its solution.

Disproof

One of the most common disinformation narratives claiming that Russia has nothing to do with the war in Ukraine. See a similar case denying Russia’s involvement in the conflict in Eastern Ukraine.

The European Union stated in July 2014 that "arms and fighters continue flowing into Ukraine from the Russian Federation". At the NATO Summit in Wales in September 2014 and at successive summits since then, NATO leaders condemned Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine in the strongest terms and demanded that Russia stop and withdraw its forces from Ukraine and along the country’s border. NATO leaders also demanded that Russia complies 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.