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Disinfo: Ukrainian borders and language are artificial. Ukrainian authorities plan to punish any use of non-Ukrainian language e.g. at home, in transport, at school.

Summary

Ukrainian borders and language are artificial, and Ukrainian authorities are planning to punish any use of non-Ukrainian language e.g. at home, in transport, at school.

Disproof

Ukraine is recognised in international law as a sovereign nation state, with its own flag, nationality, language etc. UNGA Resolution 68/262 also affirmed the General Assembly's commitment to the territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders: http://bit.ly/1RZGnjo. The new law on language is still only in the phase of a draft. Yet, it specifically says that every citizen is free to choose any language in private encounters. Read more about the law here. More debunking on the fakes about the new language law by The Insider.

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publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 121
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 07/10/2018
  • Outlet language(s)
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine, Russia
  • Keywords: West, Russian language, Ukrainian disintegration, Ukrainian statehood, Europe
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There is freedom in Crimea, whereas Ukraine is governed by criminals and terrorists

There is absolute freedom in Crimea, Russia has often invited Western delegations to Crimea to demonstrate how calm the situation is on the peninsula. Ukraine encompassing Crimea does not exist anymore. It was once free and democratic, however, nowadays a group of war criminals have taken power of the country, and they actively use state terrorism as a goal.

Oct 06, 2018
Disproof

According to the Freedom House, Russia used coercion to increase the participation of Crimeans in Russian elections; the Crimean Tatars are being repressed and the Mejlis - an organisation representing the Crimean Tatars - was banned; the Russian FSB use intimidation and harassment to eliminate opposition to Russian occupation; a forced Russification is ongoing (including making anything connected to Ukraine a taboo); and rights to freedom of association are severely restricted: https://bit.ly/2Op9YNH There is a regular pattern of promoting as official the visits by groups that have no official status and do not represent the government view or have their support. In June 2018, the EU prolonged the sanctions for the illegal annexation of Crimea for one year. See also the Fact Sheet on EU's non-recognition policy for Crimea. Current Ukrainian authorities have been elected in legitimate and democratic elections.

West's "espionage conspiracy" failed

West’s espionage conspiracy failed. The attempt of Western countries to unite against Russia, while simultaneously accusing it of secret illegal activities, does not make sense – writes The New Yorker.

Oct 05, 2018
Disproof

The original article say nothing about a "Western conspiracy". One of the respondents merely describes the reaction of the West as not sufficient to change Russia's aggressive behaviour: "Russia is on a clear course of more aggressive behavior toward the West. Strong statements and narrow sanctions won’t change that," said Alina Polyakova from the Brookings Institute to the New Yorker. See the full article here: https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/russias-image-tanks-in-the-west-but-so-does-trumps Recurring narrative about conspiracies in the pro-Kremlin media. The Western countries recently reacted to Russia's illegal activities such as: annexation of Crimea, Skripal's poisoning and OPCW targeting.

Ukraine's guests will be obliged to write in Ukrainian

Ukraine’s guests will be obliged to write in Ukrainian when they enter country’s territory.

Oct 05, 2018
Disproof

People visiting Ukraine can fill in the immigration forms also in English. Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about Russian language and Russophobia in Ukraine. The new law on language is still only in the phase of a draft. Yet, it specifically says that every citizen is free to choose any language in private encounters. Read more about the law here. More debunking on the fakes about the new language law by The Insider.