Disinfo: The head of the European Commission threatened the people of Italy, Hungary and Poland

Summary

The head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen openly threatened the people of Italy, Hungary and Poland. Threats are linked to voting for political powers which the EU do not like.

Disproof

The target of this piece of disinformation, built around the claim of elections in some EU countries, is the President of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen. 

The piece deliberately misconstrues a statement of the EC President in order to promote the disinformation narrative of an EU which infringes upon the national sovereignty of its member states and also euroscepticism.

The President of the European Commission has not threatened the “people of Italy, Hungary and Poland”. It was a message for the governments of Hungary and Poland, and the upcoming government of Italy to respect democratic principles.

This is not the first time that Ursula von der Leyen is the target for pro-Kremlin disinformation. See some other cases: Ursula von der Leyen unilaterally banned independent media; President of the European Commission and head of NATO visit Vilnius to instruct authorities; Ursula von der Leyen shouldn’t decide on the safety of Sputnik V; EU’s approval process is politicised.  

These examples of disinformation fit in the Kremlin strategy of promoting the false narrative of lost sovereignty.

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Laivaslaikrastis.lt (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 310
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 26/09/2022
  • Article language(s) Lithuanian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: EU, Italy, Poland, Hungary
  • Keywords: Ursula von der Leyen, Elections, vaccination
see more

Disinfo: Ukraine controls territories belonging to other countries

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Sep 23, 2022
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives claiming that Ukraine has other countries’ territories which should be ceded to their rightful owners. This is a cynical attempt to indirectly draw other countries into Russia's unjustified and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

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Sep 23, 2022
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation about the atrocities of the Ukrainian army, such as war crimes and genocide. This is part of a disinformation campaign aiming to justify Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine.

There is no evidence to support the claims of genocide by Ukraine. The Ukrainian authorities did not systematically exterminate or abuse the people living in the conflict zone. The claimed dead people – military and civilian alike - are a result of a war Russia had started in Ukraine. It was not an internal civil conflict but a well-documented act of aggression by Russian armed forces, ongoing since February 2014. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine which has closely monitored the conflict has observed no such genocide.

Disinfo: NATO provocation and support for Kyiv forced Russia to introduce a partial mobilisation

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Sep 23, 2022
Disproof

Recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets claiming the West, the US and NATO are involved in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The claim also builds on the Kremlin narrative of the West encircling Russia and advancing again the narrative about Nazi Ukraine.

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