Disinfo: The West is preparing a colour revolution in Belarus

Summary

The West is preparing a colour revolution in Belarus.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Belarus and colour revolutions. The protests in Belarus erupted to contest the results of the presidential election in Belarus on the 9th of August, which are considered fraudulent by a large part of Belarusian society. The European Union has also stated that the elections were neither free nor fair. There is no evidence that the protests in Belarus are funded and organised externally. Pro-Kremlin media frequently use disinformation narratives about popular protests around the world allegedly incited and funded by the US and other Western states, including colour revolutions in post-Soviet states, the “Arab Spring” revolts, Euromaidan in Ukraine, protests in Catalonia and others. This narrative claims that protests, disorders and civil uprisings are never manifestations of popular discontent but are “colour revolutions” directed and funded by the West. See similar cases claiming that the protests in Belarus are a colour revolution conducted according to a Maidan scenario and that the West wants to prepare Maidan in Belarus.

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Geopolitica.ru - Italian (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 208
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 17/08/2020
  • Outlet language(s) Italian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Belarus
  • Keywords: West, Protest, Colour revolutions, Euromaidan
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Disinfo: The West wants to take Belarusian industry under control

The Western interest in [the protests in] Minsk can be explained by its interests “in privatisation: in order to take control over its industry and its economy.”

Aug 16, 2020
Disproof

There is no evidence of any of the Western country planning to take control of the Belarusian industry and economy. See similar disinformation messages the pro-Kremlin media used in the past to target Ukraine: West controls economy in Ukraine and Ukrainian economy will not survive without Russia. As for the protests in Belarus, they erupted to contest the results of the presidential elections in Belarus on the 9th of August, which are considered fraudulent by a large part of Belarusian society. The EU has said that the deterioration in the political climate culminated in neither free nor fair elections and an outburst of repressive violence.

Disinfo: George Soros' funds prepared the ground for future coups in former Soviet states

By the beginning of the 2000s, hundreds of George Soros’ funds were already preparing the ground for future coups in the former republics of the Union and in Eastern Europe.

Aug 16, 2020
Disproof

Recurring disinformation narrative about the billionaire and the philanthropist George Soros, presenting him as a person who aims to control political systems in many countries, and presenting George Soros' Open Society Foundation as a tool for organising colour revolutions. Earlier pro-Kremlin media also accused George Soros' Open Society Foundation of provoking Anti-Russian protests in Georgia, being a threat to the national security of Armenia, and George Soros' network being directly involved in the presidential elections and the government crisis in Romania. The Open Society Foundation, is indeed sponsored by George Soros. It is a network of independent groups working for justice, democratic governance and human rights in different parts of the globe. The first international foundation was created in Hungary in 1984. Now, the Open Society Foundations support projects implemented by NGOs or state institutions in more than 120 countries. Soros has been accused (without evidence) of a wide range of 'sins': destabilising Europe, organising colour revolutions, attacking churches and traditional values as well as sponsoring the film "Joker" as a tutorial for colour revolutions. Read more about how pro-Kremlin disinformation outlets target George Soros.

Disinfo: Poland uses Lublin Triangle and ongoing protests in Belarus to revive its domination in the region

In the situation of intense protests in Belarus, the Baltic states and, particularly, Poland, showed unusual political activity. Unexpectedly, Warsaw called upon the EU to affect the situation in Minsk imposing the sanctions against Moscow. This situation is not a coincidence. The Poles have dreamed about the domination over the region since the times of Rzeczpospolita, which included Lithuania, part of modern Ukraine and Belarus. Today, the idea of Marshal Pilsudski to revive Poland “from Sea to Sea” is more popular than ever. Eleven days before the Presidential Elections in Belarus, Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine established a new union – the so-called Lublin Triangle, by analogy with the Union of Lublin, which laid the foundation for Rzeczpospolita in 1569. Belarus was immediately invited as a member of honour. There is one more interesting detail – since 2008, Warsaw has been actively issuing to the former USSR citizens the Card of Pole – the Belarusians have received the largest number of these Cards. The ongoing disturbances in Belarus is a good and long-awaited chance for those who are looking for a revanche [Poland].

Aug 16, 2020
Disproof

This message is part of the Kremlin’s policy of historical revisionism alleging that Poland has imperialist plans for Belarus. The Kremlin-controlled media regularly accuses the political elites of Poland in Russophobia and attempts to “subordinate Belarus and Ukraine”. Moreover, the Kremlin propagandist messages repeatedly claim that all the regional organisations established by the countries of Central and Eastern Europe are aimed against Russia (Eastern Partnership, Three-Seas Initiative, Lublin Triangle, etc.). Poland fully supports the independence and territorial integrity of Belarus, it does not have any territorial claims against its neighbours, and it rejects any “imperial” ambitions towards other countries. The Lublin Triangle is a new regional initiative that will focus on developing and enhancing the economic, political, and cultural ties of Ukraine, Poland, and Lithuania. It will also serve as an important mechanism for strengthening Central Europe and promoting Ukraine's European and Euroatlantic integration. In a Joint Declaration, the foreign ministers of the three countries emphasized that the countries are committed to upholding the international law, to broaden military-to-military cooperation, to further support the Eastern Partnership program, among other things. Recently, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Lublin Triangle members have presented their common statement protesting against massive violence against peaceful protestors carried out by the Belarusian authorities. Read related examples of the Russian disinformation messages: The Lublin triangle is an anti-Russian coalition of Russophobes, Polish authorities are obsessed with an idea of reconstruction of a modern Polish empire, The Giedroyc Doctrine is an edition of the Polish imperialism and Poland continues to tear off Ukraine and Belarus from Russia even during the pandemic.