Disinfo: The West causes wars in the Middle East and then blames Belarus for the refugee crisis

Summary

The West causes wars in the Middle East and then blames Belarus for the ongoing refugee crisis. Belarus, which the West perceives as a thorn in its side, has become the target of even stronger pressure from the ‘innocent’ European Union. But the current migratory crisis is due to the Western policy towards countries in the Middle East and North Africa, where the West, including NATO and the EU, have tried for years to impose a ‘better life’ according to Western models. It seems that Europe is using the same and only programme when it comes to Belarus.

Disproof

This disinformation narrative is an attempt to deflect all criticism for Belarus’ regime responsibility in the current migration crisis on the EU’s border. There is massive evidence showing that Belarusian authorities engineered the crisis artificially by creating a new migratory route in order to put pressure on the EU.

After the EU decided to impose fresh sanctions on Belarus due to the forced landing of Ryanair flight 4978, Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenko threatened several times to allow migrants and drugs to pour into western Europe, in late May and again at the end of June 2021. Soon, a steady surge of irregular migrants was detected on Lithuanian borders, and then in Poland and Latvia as well.

Multiple investigations both by European officials and by media showed that those migrants were being brought to Belarus from Iraq, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates in commercial flights, a trip encouraged and supported by Belarusian authorities.

On 15 November 2021, the EU broadened the scope of previous sanctions to tackle hybrid attacks and instrumentalisation of migrants. The EU will now be able to target individuals and entities organising or contributing to activities by the Lukashenka regime that facilitate the illegal crossing of the EU's external borders. This came amid the growing instrumentalisation of migration by the Belarusian authorities.

See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that Poland is set to fight migrants with tanks and is searching for an excuse to close in on Belarus, that the West is responsible for the migration crisis on EU-Belarus borders, or that the EU adopts sanctions on Belarus to manage its own internal contradictions.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 267
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 09/11/2021
  • Article language(s) Spanish
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Europe, EU, Belarus, Middle East, Middle East and Africa
  • Keywords: NATO, Refugees, Migration crisis
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Disinfo: Poland took part in destroying Iraq

Polish politicians who are cursing Alyaksandr Lukashenka and accusing Minsk of causing problems with Iraqi migrants should recall how Iraq was destroyed with Poland’s active participation. Over 2,000 Polish troops invaded this sovereign state to impose democracy. Why not admit at least so many “grateful Iraqis”, whose ancestors had not been dreaming of such a life before the insolent democratisers broke there?

Disproof

Disinformation message that appeared in the context of the attempts of Lukashenka regime to instrumentalise migration to pressure the EU.

Poland was a member of a broad international coalition which in 2003 took part in a US-led operation in Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom). Warsaw was entrusted with the command of the Central-South Zone as part of the International Stabilisation Force in Iraq up to the withdrawal of the Polish military contingent in 2008.

Disinfo: Polish military strategy is fundamentally wrong about the American defence assistance

In a nutshell, the definition of the Polish military strategy is the following: Poland begs for the American troops to be deployed in the country so that Russia is afraid to attack it. The Poles do not want to cooperate with the American Army - they want to have something American on their territory, something that America will have to defend in the situation of a Russian attack. This sophisticated strategy has united all the Polish governments over the past three decades.

Although, after Afghanistan, such a strategy turned out to be fundamentally wrong. If the absurd delusions of the Polish Russophobes come true and Russia invades Poland, the American President will negotiate a two-week ceasefire with Putin in order to evacuate the staff of his military base, without regrets about abandoned equipment.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about NATO and the US military presence in Europe - it claims that the United States will abandon its European allies in a situation of a Russian attack.

The core of the Polish National Security Strategy is the Polish membership in NATO and security cooperation with NATO allies. NATO is a defensive alliance whose primary aims are to maintain peace and safeguard the independence, security and territorial integrity of its members.

Disinfo: Russia should economically punish Lithuania for anti-Russian policy

Russia should terminate trade with Lithuania due to the anti-Russian and Russophobic policy of Vilnius. It would be a signal not only for Lithuania but for Europe too. Moscow's hands are free to behave with Lithuania in a way in which it deserves.

Disproof

A recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russophobia in Lithuania.

Lithuania is not a Russophobic state. The Republic of Lithuania established bilateral relations with the Russian Federation in 1991, even before the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Treaty on Fundamentals of Interstate Relations between the Republic of Lithuania and the Russian Federation was signed on 29 July 1991. The mentioned treaty remains in force and “still preserves huge potential for the development of friendly relations between Lithuania and Russia on the basis of international law, historical truth and justice, the sincere acknowledgement of sovereign equality and mutual respect of parties”. Trade relations are mutually beneficial for both states as well as the companies involved.