Disinfo: The people of Crimea choose Russia by free will

Summary

The people of Crimea choose Russia because Kyiv mocked the peninsula and in every possible way infringed the rights of Crimeans. Crimea did not receive sufficient social and economic development with Ukraine. Crimea became part of the Russian region (Federation) after a referendum held in March 2014, when the majority of the inhabitants of the peninsula voted to reunite with Russia.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the illegal annexation of Crimea. No international body recognises the so-called referendum, announced 27 February 2014 and held less than three weeks later. On 27 March 2014, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which 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. The oft-cited figure of 97% has been contested by the Kremlin’s own Human Rights Council, which estimated that only between 30% and 50% of Crimeans took part in the referendum, of which some 50-60% favoured secession. Many residents, including native Tatars, refused to vote in the referendum. See here for the EU statement on the sixth anniversary of Crimea annexation.

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russian.rt.com (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 196
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 06/05/2020
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine, Russia
  • Keywords: illegal annexation, Manipulated elections/referendum, Crimea, Referendum
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Disinfo: Ukraine is in the hands of nationalists and American puppets

Odesa is occupied by an enemy. “Bandera’s ideology” is flourishing in Ukraine and the country’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is only a pawn. In fact, the power in Ukraine is in the hands of nationalists, who are the “puppets” of the United States of America.

May 05, 2020
Disproof

This is a mix of recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives, painting Ukrainian politics as dominated by fascist/Nazi groups and Ukrainian politicians being puppets of the West. Ukraine is not controlled by any foreign government. While its sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected by most of the free world, they were violated by Russia in 2014. The EU works closely with Ukraine and supports the democratic development of Ukraine in accordance with the UN Charter’s principles of non-interference into internal affairs and respect towards territorial integrity and political independence. The US policy is focused on strengthening a stable, democratic, prosperous and free Ukraine, more closely integrated into Europe and Euro-Atlantic structures. As for the Nazis ruling Ukraine, far-right groups had a very limited presence during the Euromaidan, contrary to the Kremlin's narrative, and have suffered spectacular defeats in every national election since 2014. See similar cases: Zelenskyy is unable to handle the Ukronazis, Ukraine is run by pro-EU oligarchic Nazis supported by the US.

Disinfo: Russia has the right to reclaim the original Russian lands from Ukraine

There should be friendly states along the perimeter of the Russian Federation that recognise the special role of Russia in the post-Soviet space. States that pursue an anti-Russian policy must understand: Russia will not make any concessions. Russia has all the rights to reclaim the original Russian lands of southeastern Ukraine.

May 05, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin propaganda narrative questioning Ukrainian statehood. Ukraine is a well-defined nation-state that has preserved language, literature and identity, despite foreign rule for long periods of time. It is a sovereign state whose borders are guaranteed by international agreements but were violated by Russia, which started a war in Ukraine in 2014. See also previous narratives claiming that there is no Ukraine, that Belarusians, Russians and Ukrainians are the same nation, and that Ukrainians are Russians, not Ukrainians.

Disinfo: A junta took power in Ukraine after 2013-2014 revolution

These militants [Euromaidan participants] know well that without them, without their criminal actions to seize power by force, there would be no Poroshenko or Turchinov, who are correctly called the junta. They gained legitimacy later, already in a destroyed and torn country, where fascists from the streets took power. “The street” understands this perfectly. The militants have reasons to consider themselves a protected caste because they are responsible for the legitimacy of this regime, which took power after the February 2014 events.

May 05, 2020
Disproof

This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative painting the 2013-14 protests in Kyiv as a coup that brought to power a fascist regime. Ukraine is not governed by a junta. Democratic, competitive and generally well-organised presidential and parliamentary elections were held in 2014 and local elections in 2015. The EU welcomed this progress. The OSCE, which observed all these elections on the ground, characterised the presidential elections as showing the "clear resolve of the authorities to hold what was a genuine election largely in line with international commitments and with a respect for fundamental freedoms." The 2019 early parliamentary elections, according to the preliminary statement of the OSCE, were efficiently run and respected fundamental freedoms. The European Parliament election observation delegation to Ukraine said in a statement that notwithstanding the fact that the elections were taking place a few months earlier than planned, one can undoubtedly say that they were competitive, well-administered and managed in an efficient way. The demonstrations which began in Kyiv in November 2013 – called "Maidan", or "Euromaidan" – were a result of the Ukrainian people's frustration with former President Yanukovych's last-minute U-turn when, after seven years of negotiation, he refused to sign the EU–Ukraine Association Agreement and halted progress towards Ukraine's closer relationship with the EU due to Russian pressure. The protesters' demands included constitutional reform, a stronger role for parliament, formation of a government of national unity, an end to corruption, early presidential elections and an end to violence. For similar cases, see here.