Disinfo: The West will organize events to discredit elections in Russia

Summary

On the eve of the elections to State Duma, one can expect timed "events" from the Western countries, including those with state support, says representative of Russian MFA Maria Zakharova.

Those events will be linked not simply to some ideological demands directed at our country from the Western capitals, but directly [linked] to the election of the legislative assembly of the Russian Federation. We will tell you a lot of interesting things about it.

Disproof

Unfounded claim, based on recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about belligerent West and encircled Russia. No evidence is provided to support claims.

This 'forecast' borrows elements from the 'Straw Man' cheap trick of arguments - see our account of this here.

This disinformation claim appeared in the context of upcoming legislative elections in Russia, in September 2021.

See related disinformation claims, alleging that The West wants to influence elections in Russia and supports anti-State powers; West trying to interfere in Russia’s legislative elections; For the West, Russian elections will always be "bad".

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 257
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 06/09/2021
  • Article language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Russia
  • Keywords: West, Elections, Encircling Russia
see more

Disinfo: The Biden-Zelenskyy summit proves Ukraine has become a US colony

When they say that the US is supporting future steps in certain sectors, this involves agriculture, climate and energy. That is, the one paying will have access to lands, energy production, railways and port infrastructure. This is an undeniable proof that Ukraine has become an American colony.

Disproof

This is a recurring disinformation narrative widely promoted by pro-Kremlin outlets to make allegations of ”foreign control” of Ukraine. The narrative is aimed at undermining Ukraine's sovereignty and struggle for territorial integrity, as well as at discrediting international support in the wake of still ongoing acts of Russian aggression in the country's Donbas region and the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula.

The disinformation claim above refers to a recent high-level summit between US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The summit has resulted in broadening strategic cooperation between the two countries in a number of areas, including the economy, military, and climate among others. In sharp contrast to the disinformation claim, active economic cooperation with a foreign country does not result in becoming a colony.

Disinfo: Global elites overthrew Donald Trump

The US does not exist as a national state which defends the interests of citizens. This was shown by the overthrow of Donald Trump. The US has become a hostage of its own global elites.

Disproof

This disinformation claim combines a recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about secret global elites with the narrative about the stolen 2020 US presidential election from former President Donald Trump. The narrative is now being repeated in the context of the withdrawal of the US troops from Afghanistan.

Donald Trump was defeated by Joe Biden in a legitimate and valid election: the 2020 presidential election, which has been indisputably proven to be the most secure democratic election in history, well managed and legitimate, as determined by the US Supreme Court. See here more about OSCE election observations in the US.

Disinfo: Western leaders vowed NATO would not expand eastwards

What has not been put on paper, history quickly reduces to zero - just like the promise made by then-German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and then-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to then-Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev that NATO will not be expanding to the East.

Disproof

This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets alleging that the West deceived the former Soviet Union and subsequently Russia by breaking its promise not to expand NATO to the East.

In reality, these claims are unsubstantiated because there is no trustworthy evidence that any Western leader ever gave assurances to former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev about NATO’s pledge not to admit new members. There is no recorded or otherwise documented commitment to this effect. Gorbachev himself denied this claim in an interview in 2014: