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Disinfo: The Ukrainian election is a competition of falsification and extortion

Summary

Ukrainian elections are very competitive – but it is a competition of falsification and extortion. The elections are not very fair.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the Ukraine elections. “What I observed was a free choice by free people. Ukrainians demonstrated their strong commitment to democratic and Euro-Atlantic values. I saw the enthusiasm of citizens of all ages participating in the election process in impressive numbers,” said Michal Szczerba, Head of the delegation from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly at the afterwards press conference on the results of the first tour of elections. The OSCE PA Election Observation Mission in Ukraine has declared that the first round of the presidential elections in Ukraine was competitive, and citizens had the opportunity to freely express their will. “We can admit that there were definitely competitive elections and the opportunity to vote for the candidate the citizens wanted to elect was provided”, the OSCE Special Coordinator, OSCE PA Honorary President Ilkka Kanerva said. Following the first round of the presidential elections in Ukraine, the same position was announced by the Head of the EP election observation delegation Dariusz Rosati. According to him, these elections were definitely competitive, since no candidate could be clearly identified as the likely winner. The Canadian Election Observation Mission in Ukraine also considers the elections as fair. A press release of the Canadian Mission says that Ukraine’s highly competitive presidential election meets international standards.

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Rossia 24 - YouTube (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 145
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 12/04/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine
  • Keywords: election meddling, Manipulated elections/referendum, Elections
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Ukraine has only been accepted into the Western camp in order to serve as a deployment area against Russia

Ukraine has only been accepted into the Western camp in order to serve as a deployment area against Russia.

Apr 11, 2019
Disproof

No evidence given. Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative on Ukraine and Western belligerence towards Russia, the West attempting to weaken and isolate Russia or to use Ukraine as NATO-springboard towards Russia.

While aware of pro-Kremlin disinformation campaigns, the West is trying to keep open channels of communications with Russia. For instance, NATO as the Western organisation created cooperation bodies – the Permanent Joint Council and the NATO-Russia Council – to embody its relationship with Russia. It also invited Russia to cooperate on missile defence. The Warsaw Summit Communique 2016 describes NATO's official policy towards Russia: "The Alliance does not seek confrontation and poses no threat to Russia. But we cannot, and will not, compromise on the principles on which our Alliance and security in Europe and North America rest." The EU and its member states have maintained a clear policy of reaching out to Russian society and youth, mainly through the Erasmus+ student exchange programme and other people to people contacts, in line with five guiding principles of relations with Russia.

Washington has established buffer states in Eastern Europe between Russia and Germany

Washington has established buffer states in Eastern Europe between Russia and Germany. The United States opposes cooperation between Russia and Germany, fearing the strength of such an alliance.

Apr 11, 2019
Disproof

There are no "buffer states" between Germany and Russia; the USA did not "establish" buffer states in Eastern Europe. Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about German-American relations and Western dominance in Europe.

The successor 15 states of the USSR, which emerged after the collapse of the USSR are independent countries, whose sovereignty is recognized by the international community.

If Poroshenko loses the second round of the elections, he might murder Zelensky

Poroshenko understands he has no chance of winning the elections. That is why he is organizing total falsifications of the elections, with support of the EU and US. And if he loses the second round, he will murder Zelensky. That way the elections would be organised again and Poroshenko would win.

Apr 11, 2019
Disproof

Conspiracy theory with no evidence given. Consistent with recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the elections in Ukraine.