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Disinfo: The US is waging a ”colour revolution” against Russia

Summary

The “collective West” has instigated a hybrid war against Russia, containing three major elements: the first element is the economic warfare; the second – sustaining local and regional conflicts. The third, and most important element is information-psychological war – activities aimed at influencing the psychology of the adversary. The United States are carefully and methodologically preparing a social outburst, a “colour revolution” and a coup d’etat in Russia in 2021–2022, around the time of the next parliamentary elections in Russia.  

Disproof

Conspiracy theory, presented without evidence. This is consistent with a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russophobia. The message implies that any spontaneous disorders and civil uprisings in other states are US-funded "colour revolutions".

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publication/media

News agency REX (Archived)
News Front - German (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 157
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 08/07/2019
  • Language/target audience: Russian, German
  • Country: US
  • Keywords: West, Colour revolutions, Russophobia, Information war, Conspiracy theory

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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Western embassies impose same-sex marriages to divide Belarusian society

The LGBT flag waved by the British embassy in Belarus brings destructive consequences to Belarusian society. The US, Swedish and Israel embassies as well as the UN and WHO offices in Belarus also issued statements in support of the LGBT community. Belarusian opposition forces, civic campaigners, human rights defenders and independent media support ‘holers’ [the term used to describe LGBT by former Belarusian Interior Minister Ihar Shunevich] consider May 17th a more important day than Victory Day (May 9th). The promotion of same-sex marriages by foreign actors is aimed to divide Belarusian society, which values family over foreign perversions. Nevertheless, the Belarusian opposition along with the British Embassy continues to impose their values on the whole society.

July 09, 2019
Disproof

This message is consistent with recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about the morally corrupt West and threatened traditional values, as well as the West's aggressive actions towards Belarus and Belarusian society. It is also aimed at discrediting the democratic Belarusian opposition, civil society and independent media. The UK and other Western embassies did not promote same-sex marriages in Belarus. The British Embassy in Minsk showed support for equal rights for Belarusian LGBT people by flying a rainbow flag for the International Day Against Homophobia. After the Belarusian Interior Ministry slammed the UK embassy in Minsk for flying a rainbow flag on the International Day Against Homophobia in 2018, UK Ambassador Fiona Gibb posted a video stating "We do so not to promote LGBT, but to promote equal rights for this community. LGBT people are not asking for special rights, but simply to enjoy the same respect, dignity and rights as others. As human rights are universal and should apply equally to all people, my government is committed to non-discrimination on any grounds, including sexual orientation and gender identity." According to the May 2019 Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, the systematic restrictions on the freedom of expression, assembly and association in Belarus lead to discrimination against the LGBTI community. Belarusian legislation does not have any laws specifically protecting sexual minorities from discrimination. The report reads: "Article 64.9 of the Criminal Code foresees aggravating circumstances for crimes motivated by “hatred or hostility towards any social group”. However, the term “social group” is very vague and prosecutions taking into account the article in regard to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community are reported as rare.” See earlier disinformation cases alleging that the UK embassy in Belarus promotes genocidal and self-destructive policies, that the whole Belarusian opposition has become an LGBT community to get financial assistance from the UK, that pro-Western Belarusian opposition prefers commemorating WWII events with swastikas and LGBT symbols and that Schengen visa fees for Belarusians are high, because the number of homosexuals per capita in Belarus is very low.

The West has again ordered Belarusian opposition to take over power by force

The Belarusian National Congress (BNC), chaired by opposition politician Mikalai Statkevich, is a real aggressor. It is aggressive towards the Belarusian government, president, the Kremlin, and Belarusian people. Under the cover of peaceful protests, they continue calling people to protest and to burn rubber on Maidan. Such calls will intensify on the eve of Belarusian parliamentary and presidential campaigns. They would not boycott elections as in 2015, because this time the West tasked the BNC with violent take-over of power in Belarus.

July 09, 2019
Disproof

This is a collection of conspiracies and ungrounded claims aimed to discredit the US and the West, Mikalai Statkevich and the democratic Belarusian opposition. This disinformation message is consistent with pro-Kremlin narratives about subservient Belarusian opposition and independent media and Western attempts to organise a colour revolution in Belarus. Mikalai Statkevich is a Belarusian politician and activist. He was a candidate at the 2010 presidential election in Belarus. After the election day crackdown, he was arrested and put in prison. On 26 May 2011, he was sentenced to 6 years in a medium-security penal colony. Amnesty International recognised him as a prisoner of conscience. The EU considered Statkevich as a political prisoner and repeatedly called on the Belarusian authorities to release him. Statkevich was released on 22 August 2015 on the presidential pardon. Since then he was repeatedly detained and faced short-term prison terms on political grounds. This disinformation case about Mikalai Statkevich is not unique. Earlier disinformation stories alleged that in 2017 Statkevich's team attempted to carry out a terrorist act during the mass protest action in Belarus and that he proclaimed a crusade against the Orthodox Church in Belarus. See also a similar recent disinformation case alleging that another Belarusian opposition leader - Andrei Sannikau - prepares a coup with US military assistance.

The population of non-government controlled areas in Ukraine don’t see themselves as part of it any more

The population of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk republics has turned away from Ukraine, the people don’t see themselves as part of it any more.

July 09, 2019
Disproof

A manipulative claim, part of a Pro-Kremlin narrative about the impossibility to reconnect the Russia-controlled regions to Ukraine. According to a survey held by the Center for East European and International Studies (ZOiS) in 2017, more than half (56%) of the population of so-called self-proclaimed "republics" (LNR and DNR) see their future as part of Ukraine.