Disinfo: The spy recording is years old and does not show a Serbian military officer

Summary

Video recording where a Russian intelligence officer allegedly gives money to a Serbian officer is several years old. In addition, the person claimed to be a Serbian official with the officer rank is not a member of local security forces. In other words, it is a civilian who, most likely, was trading in business information.

Disproof

No evidence given for either of the claims. It was later officially confirmed that the recording was taken in December 2018, not several years ago. The Military Security Agency has also confirmed that the second person in the video is a retired Serbian military official, who was, at the time, already being investigated for contacts with foreign intelligence services. A spokesperson for the Serbian Security Agency has confirmed the authenticity of the video.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 176
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 20/11/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Serbian, Bosnian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Serbia, Russia
  • Keywords: GRU, Intelligence services
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Disproof

Conspiracy theory; no evidence given.This narrative falls within the broader pro-Kremlin disinformation efforts attempting to deny the existence of genuine grass-roots protests, portraying them as foreign-led efforts and fake colour revolutions. This is also part of a disinformation narrative about US-led regime change operations against left-wing governments in Latin America. You can see other examples of this narrative in the database, such as the alleged presence of a US marine in the Venezuelan barricades and the promotion of a Ukraine-style 'colour revolution', the training of Venezuelan exiles in Guyana for military operations inside the country, preparations for a military intervention after forcing Brazil to join NATO, deliberate blackouts in South America caused by the US, or the existence of plans for the secession of oil-rich regions in both Venezuela and Mexico. Although the United States "applauds the Bolivian people for demanding freedom", there is no evidence to suggest that the US was directly involved in Evo Morales' resignation. Morales’ resignation came during mass protests in the country after the Organisation of American States (OAS) reported “extensive irregularities” in the election for his fourth term. Morales had invited the OAS to observe the vote, and the group called for the election to be annulled. Read full debunk by Polygraph. Read the statement from the EU's High Representative/Vice President Federica Mogherini on the situation in Bolivia here. For additional cases on the current situation in Bolivia, see here.

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Disproof

This claim involves speculation without evidence. It is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russophobia, US/NATO military aggression towards Russia, and alleged US funding of "colour revolutions" in Russia and other post-Soviet states. It also plays into the oft-used narrative that the West wants to conquer and subdue Russia, in order to portray Russia as the victim of unjustified aggression against which it must defend itself. For similar cases about US and NATO warmongering towards Russia and its neighbours, see here.

Disinfo: Washington is using NATO for military confrontation in the Arctic

The military-industrial complex in Washington is determined to extract as much cash as possible from the Arctic, and the planned peaceful development of the region by Russia is a disturbing complication. Washington is using NATO as a front to establish an Arctic Circle of military confrontation in the hope that this will prevent Russia from exploring the region for oil and gas and extracting the resources known to be there.

Disproof

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