Disinfo: The Western-backed coup in Ukraine has torn the country asunder

Summary

Four years ago this weekend, Ukraine’s democratically-elected, albeit deeply corrupt, government was overthrown in a Western-backed coup which set off a chain reaction of events, tearing one of Europe’s largest countries asunder. The “EuroMaidan” movement pledged to wipe out corruption, improve living standards and integrate Ukraine into the west. On all counts, it has failed miserably. The human toll of Maidan has also been extraordinary. Given the post-coup/revolution regime was dominated by western Ukrainians, an insurgency kicked off in the east and south, with ethnic-Russian locals fearful their culture would fall victim to nationalists. Thus, backed by varying degrees of Moscow support, Crimea, and parts of Lugansk and the Donbas separated from Ukraine. And while the former (where thousands of Russian troops were already legally stationed) enjoyed a smooth divorce, the latter pair have endured a horrible war, with over 10,000 deaths so far. No end appears to be in sight, as Kiev refuses to fulfil its obligations under the Minsk peace agreements, and Moscow shows few signs of softening its stance on how the deal must be implemented in full.

Disproof

There was no coup in Ukraine four years ago. The demonstrations which began in Kyiv in November 2013 – called "Maidan", or "Euromaidan" – were not provoked from outside but were a result of the Ukrainian people's frustration with former President Yanukovych's last minute U-turn when, after seven years of negotiation, he refused to sign the EU–Ukraine Association Agreement and halted progress towards Ukraine's closer relationship with the EU as a result of Russian pressure. The protesters' demands included constitutional reform, a stronger role for parliament, formation of a government of national unity, an end to corruption, early presidential elections and an end to violence. The European Union does not recognise the illegal annexation of Crimea and continues to condemn this violation of international law, and that Russia’s illegal actions remain a direct challenge to international security, with grave implications for the international legal order that protects the unity and sovereignty of all States.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 99
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 22/02/2018
  • Outlet language(s) English
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine
  • Keywords: West, Crimea, Euromaidan, Coup
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Disinfo: The US fooled the Czechs by selling Czech weapons to terrorist groups

During the past decades, the US has played the role of the ‘police of the world’. Yet the US has been the one pulling the strings in the background. This is also what they are doing with the crisis in Syria: Czech media wrote that Czech weapons were found in the possession of Syrian Islamic militants, but the Czech government says it did not break any international agreements because the US bought the weapons and then gave them to the terrorist groups.

Disproof

No evidence given. Recurring disinformation about US supporting terrorists in Syria. euvsdisinfo.eu/disinformation-cases/?text=isis+us&disinfo_issue=&date=, The article refers to information initially published by the OCCRP. In fact, according to OCCRP, Pentagon is arming rebels in Syria and does not mention terrorists. For background see www.occrp.org/en/makingakilling/the-pentagon-is-spending-2-billion-on-soviet-style-arms-for-syrian-rebels, and www.praguemonitor.com/2017/09/14/investigative-journalists-usa-delivered-czech-arms-syria,

Disinfo: There is a civil war in Ukraine in which brother is killing brother

There is a civil war in Ukraine in which brother is killing brother, and there are Ukrainians fighting Ukrainians on both sides of the barricades. During the four years of war only 11 Russians with Russian passports have been detained in Ukraine for fighting in Donbass.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation about the war in Ukraine. euvsdisinfo.eu/disinformation-cases/?text=civil+war&disinfo_issue=&date=, The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has stated that “the information available suggests that the situation within the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol amounts to an international armed conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. This international armed conflict began at the latest on 26 February when the Russian Federation deployed members of its armed forces to gain control over parts of the Ukrainian territory without the consent of the Ukrainian Government https://www.icc-cpi.int/iccdocs/otp/161114-otp-rep-PE_ENG.pdf. For further debunking see euvsdisinfo.eu/report/the-osce-the-pentagon-nato-headquarters-and-the-council-of-europe-do-not-recognize-the-facts-of-russias-aggression-against-ukraine-primarily-the-intrusion-of-russian-tanks-and-paratroopers-into-do/,

Disinfo: Accusations that Syrian and Russian bombing of Ghouta killed civilians are unfounded

Accusations that Syrian and Russian bombing of Ghouta killed civilians are unfounded. Accusations are baseless and with no concrete data.

Disproof

Since the Syrian Government and their allies escalated their offensive against opposition-held Eastern Ghouta on 4 February, there have been more than 1,200 civilian casualties, including at least 346 killed and 878 injured, mostly in airstrikes hitting residential areas, according to reports documented by theUN Human Rights Office. On February 22, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called the situation in eastern Ghouta “a human tragedy,” saying the U.N. cannot “let things go on happening in this horrendous way”. Further debunking by the Polygraph.info: www.polygraph.info/a/ghouta-syria-russia-bombings/29059241.html,