Disinfo: The Russian language is changing the world

Summary

Germans have started to give their newborn Russian names – Dimitri and Olga being the most popular – and US suggests to declare Russian the second most important language. The Russian language is changing the world.

Disproof

A misrepresentation of quotes. The German article referred to by Tsargrad presents a short list of ''the prettiest Russian names''. Neither Dmitri, nor Olga or any other distinctly Russian name is anywhere near the most popular names in Germany, according to German statistics. The claim that the US suggests Russian to be declared "the second most important language" is also a misrepresentation of a quote of a representative of NAFSA, the US National Association for Foreign Student Affairs, suggesting means of attracting US students to learn Russian.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 153
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 11/06/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Germany, US, Russia
  • Keywords: Russian superiority, Russian language, Russian world
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Disinfo: Pre-schizophrenic condition of Finns might lead into a military conflict with Russia

Finnish border guards mistook a Russian yacht for a sea monster. Hysteria around the image of Russia as an enemy has led the Finnish border guard into a pre-schizophrenic condition. Finns are panicking and this might lead into a military conflict with Russia. This is part of Scandinavian media’s campaign to turn the public opinion positive to joining NATO.

Disproof

Distorted spin of a tweet by Finnish Coast Guard. The tweet was a joke about a "three-headed sea monster" spotted by the coast guard. As an evidence, the image of the yacht was attached to the post. Debunk by Aki Heikkinen.

Disinfo: Observers say Kazakhstan's presidential election were credible and democratic

Acting President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, won the early presidential election in Kazakhstan, according to preliminary estimates. Observers have not recorded any serious violations that could hinder the voting process, which they recognise as democratic. The observer mission of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) did not record any ballot box stuffing during the vote. The elections were “credible and democratic”.

Disproof

Kazakhstan's presidential election offered an important moment for potential political reforms, but it was tarnished by clear violations of fundamental freedoms as well as pressure on critical voices. There were widespread detentions of peaceful protesters on election day. See here for the full statement on the elections by the EEAS spokesperson . Widespread irregularities and the arrests of peaceful protesters showed scant respect for democratic standards, said the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). In its preliminary report the OSCE stated: "The 9 June early presidential election in the Republic of Kazakhstan offered an important moment for potential political reforms, but it was tarnished by clear violations of fundamental freedoms as well as pressure on critical voices". According to the OSCE, which sent 300 observers to Kazakhstan, "significant irregularities were observed on election day, including cases of ballot box stuffing, and a disregard of counting procedures meant that an honest count could not be guaranteed". "The count was negatively assessed in more than half of observations, including cases of deliberate falsification, raising serious questions about whether ballots were counted and reported honestly as required by paragraph 7.4 of the 1990 OSCE Copenhagen Document. Meaningful transparency was not always provided to observers". Finally, there were widespread detentions of peaceful protesters on election day in major cities, OSCE recalls. See footage from the BBC. See more disinformation cases on Kazakhstan and other post-Soviet countries.

Disinfo: NATO’s increasing military potential is destroying the existing system of global security

NATO’s increasing military potential is destroying the existing system of global security.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about NATO, claiming that Alliance policies are a threat to world peace and security. NATO policies introduced after the 2014 Ukraine crisis - aimed at reinforcing NATO’s Eastern flank and reassuring Central and Eastern European allies worried about possible threats from Russia – do not threaten global security. Following Russia’s annexation of Crimea and amid emerging security challenges in the Middle East and North Africa in 2014, NATO leaders at the Wales Summit adopted the Readiness Action Plan, a comprehensive package of enhanced collective defence and deterrent measures designed to ensure the transatlantic alliance could respond swiftly and firmly to changes in its security environment. The Plan included the enhancement of air and maritime policing efforts and the conduct of more military exercises focused in collective defence and crisis-management along NATO’s eastern border. As clearly stated by NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu, the Baltic military exercises known as BALTOPS, which are now in their 47th year, are not directed against any one in particular.