Disinfo: The goal of Western sanctions is to punish Russians

Summary

The goal of Western sanctions is to punish Russia. Will Germany punish Russia? Think about these words. The Germans want to punish the Russians. (Punish) the Russian people, who suffered incomprehensible sacrifices during the liberation of the peoples of Europe, including the Germans, from Hitler’s regime. The Russians, who 30 years ago showed human compassion and accommodated the strong desire of the Germans to live in a unified country.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative that Western sanctions against Russia aim to punish or destroy Russia. In fact, the sanctions from the US and the EU (including Germany) do not aim to punish Russia or the Russian people but were introduced to send a clear signal to the Russian government after Russia's illegal annexation of the Ukrainian Crimean peninsula and the downing of the Malaysian passenger plane MH17. The first round of EU sanctions against Russia was introduced on 17 March 2014. Later, in view of Russia's actions destabilising the situation in eastern Ukraine, the EU imposed economic sanctions in July 2014 and reinforced them in September 2014. The latest decision on a six-month extension of EU sanctions against Russia was taken on the 12th of September 2019, lasting until March 2020. Read similar cases on Western sanctions alleging that the EU suffers from its own sanctions more than Russia, EU sanctions against Russia are not democratic and that European Council sanctions are irrational and unjustified.

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Sputnik Germany (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 171
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 28/10/2019
  • Outlet language(s) German
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Germany, Russia
  • Keywords: Mikhail Gorbachev, West, Anti-Russian, Sanctions
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Disinfo: Ukrainian autocephalous church is a US project

It is no secret that the creation of this schismatic church formation in Ukraine is an American project aimed at undermining the position of the canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine – the Ukrainian Orthodox Church [of the Moscow Patriarchy].

Oct 27, 2019
Disproof

A conspiracy theory presented without any evidence. Pro-Kremlin disinformation outlets have frequently attacked the establishment of an autocephalous Ukrainian church. The Constantinople Patriarchy, not the US, decided to grant the autocephaly to the Ukrainian church. The final decision was made in January 2019, when all members of the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate signed off the Tomos of autocephaly. The signing of the Tomos happened after months of careful preparations and considerations by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Holy Synod.

Disinfo: The US forced the Greek church to recognise Ukrainian autocephaly

The Greek Church decided to recognise the right of the Istanbul Patriarch Bartholomew to grant autocephaly to the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine after pressure from the [US] Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Oct 27, 2019
Disproof

A conspiracy theory presented without any supporting evidence. Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The process of recognition was initiated by the Orthodox Church of Greece on 8 January 2019, when the Permanent Synod of the Church of Greece decided that the issue of recognition would be dealt by the Synod of the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece. In February, the Synod of the Church decided to appoint two commissions to study the issue. In August, the commissions presented a report and recommended to recognise the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. On 12 October, the primate of the church Ieronymos II of Athens and other hierarchs supported the conclusions and voted for the recognition, stating that “the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople has the right to granting autocephaly”.

Disinfo: Al-Baghdadi and ISIS sprang up as a result of US actions in the Middle East

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi appeared because of the Americans. Without them, he would not have appeared, like ISIS itself.

Oct 27, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative claiming that US is behind the creation of ISIS/Daesh. This message is part of a broader conspiracy theory alleging that the United States and its NATO partners have established many terrorist organisations and control global terrorism. In fact, the US is part of the global coalition against Daesh. See similar messages about the US being behind terrorist organisations here, here and here.