Language:

See all Disinfo Cases - Detail

Disinfo: The US plans to turn Belarus into its colony, a coup and foreign military invasion may happen

Summary

The fate of all authoritarian rulers who tried to agree with Washington and collective West was tragic. In a new Belarus, which the West is planning to build on the ruins of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, the West does not need Alexander Lukashenko in any status. The US will not behave as the Kremlin, which tolerates Lukashenko’s demarches and does not interfere in Belarus’ domestic affairs. An appointment of US ambassador to Belarus means that the embassy will soon start reviewing the candidates to Belarus’ presidential position.

Given the specifics of Belarus, Lukashenko may be overthrown not through the Maidan, but in a coup. In case someone suddenly backs up and attempts to save Belarus from turning into yet another US colony, the West may bring hundreds of Belarusian nationals who fought in Donbas on Kyiv’s side. Following the power change in Belarus, so-called peacekeeping forces from Poland or the Baltic states may enter and replace the Russian military in Belarus.

Disproof

This is a conspiracy theory which is consistent with recurring pro-Kremlin narratives about Western attempts to organise a colour revolution in Belarus and to disrupt Belarusian-Russian relations.

The US and other Western countries do not have plans to organize a forceful power change in Belarus or to send any peacekeeping forces from Poland or the Baltic states. Belarusian authorities expelled US ambassador in 2008 in response to US sanctions introduced for the rigged presidential elections in Belarus and poor human rights record. The sides announced their plans to restore ambassadors during the US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale' s visit to Minsk in September 2019. This intention was confirmed during US State Secretary Mike Pompeo visit to Minsk on 1 February 2020.

See earlier disinformation cases alleging that the West dreams of tearing Belarus apart from Russia and to organise a Ukraine-like scenario, that Belarusian opposition leader Andrei Sannikau prepares a coup with US military assistance, and that pro-Western Belarusian opposition prepares a revolution with the assistance of armed Ukrainian nationalists.

Go to search

publication/media

topwar.ru (Archived)
fishki.net
  • Reported in: Issue184
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 03/02/2020
  • Language/target audience: Russian
  • Country: Russia, Baltic states, Belarus, US, Poland
  • Keywords: Union State of Belarus and Russia, Imperialism/colonialism, Alexander Lukashenko, Colour revolutions, Coup, 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.

see more

Media spreading panic about coronavirus to divert attention from unpopular issues like Brexit

International media are seizing the opportunity provided by the new coronavirus outbreak to criticize China, spreading panic to divert attention from many unpopular decisions in their own countries. For example, the focus isn’t on Brexit as much as before.

February 17, 2020
Disproof

Conspiracy theory. No evidence is provided to support the claim.

This is part of pro-Kremlin disinformation efforts on coronavirus aiming to put some blame on the West for allegedly exploiting this outbreak for their own purposes, namely isolating China. While many baseless conspiracy theories emerged all over the world amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, there is no proof that Western media are deliberately promoting them. On the other hand, there is mounting evidence that pro-Kremlin media are spreading disinformation on the disease for political purposes in a coordinated campaign.

“Berkut” soldiers did not commit any crimes during coup d’etat in Ukraine

“Berkut” soldiers did not commit any crimes during coup d’etat in Ukraine.

The ex-“Berkut” soldiers insist on their innocence: “We have nothing to hide – we have committed no crimes. We want to restore the honest name of the ‘Berkut’ Special Forces and we want those who are actually responsible for the murder of law enforcement officers and protesters to be punished.” (…) They describe the Ukrainian revolution in 2014 (also known as “Euromaidan”) as a “coup d’état”.

February 17, 2020
Disproof

This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the Euromaidan protests and a coup d'etat in Ukraine.

According to a 2015 report of International Advisory Panel on Maidan investigations, “--- the PGO investigation found evidence relatively quickly to the effect that a Berkut unit had killed 39 protesters with AKS 7.62mm calibre weapons on 20February 2014.”

Russia was excluded from MH17 investigation, Russian evidence was ignored

The Russian side was excluded from participating in the investigation, despite important data that had been transferred confirming that the missile belonged to Ukraine. The evidence was ignored in every way; it is useless to wait for an objective investigation.

February 17, 2020
Disproof

One of the many recurring, and occasionally conflicting, disinformation narratives around the downing of flight MH17 which appear again due to the imminent trial of the suspects (see below).

Russia's interest in aiding the JIT investigation is not a relevant condition of its membership. The crash did not take place over Russian territory and claimed no Russian lives, which precludes any basis for Moscow to be represented in the JIT. Dutch Chief Prosecutor Fred Westerbeke told a Russian newspaper that "if MH17 were shot down over Russia, I would have suggested that Russia be made a member of the JIT group."