Disinfo: There is no persecution of gay people in Russia

Summary

Gays in Russia face no persecution. They live openly, they do their comings-out, they declare their homosexuality, and nothing happens to them. No one fires them from their jobs, no one beats them up, nothing.

Disproof

The persecution of sexual minorities in Russia is a critical, ongoing issue which includes violence, employment discrimination and social stigma. According to the NGO ILGA-Europe, Russia is the fourth-worst European country for LGBT persons to live in. The true extent of anti-LGBT discrimination in Russia is difficult to assess, given that the state does not compile statistics on violence against sexual minorities. Nor does the legal system confer any specific protections on LGBT persons; Article 63 of the Criminal Code counts "political, ideological, racial, national or religious hatred" among factors aggravating punishment for violent offences, but this provision does not extend to sexual and gender minorities. Independent studies show that LGBT hate crimes doubled between 2013 and 2017, with researchers attributing the increase to the 2013 federal law banning "gay propaganda." The most recent report by Russia's SOVA Center, a non-governmental hate crime watchdog, noted another spike in anti-LGBT violence in 2018-19. The situation is especially dire in Chechnya, where homophobic violence is not only tacitly permitted, but routinely perpetrated by regional law enforcement.

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60 minut @Rossiya 1 - YouTube (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 203
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 26/06/2020
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Russia
  • Keywords: Human rights, LGBT
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Disinfo: The West needs a weak and poor Ukraine

The West [EU] does not need a large Ukraine with well-developed infrastructure and intelligent scientific and technical personnel. Therefore, it is looking through its fingers (ed: trying not to see/cowardly) at the loss of Crimea and Donbas, as well as the destruction of the country’s economy.

Jun 25, 2020
Disproof

A recurring pro-Kremlin narrative on Ukraine and its relations with the European Union. In June 2014, the EU and Ukraine signed an Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), which promotes deeper political ties, stronger economic links and the respect for common values. Since 2014, the EU and the Financial Institutions have mobilised more than €15 billion in grants and loans to support the reform process, with strong conditionality on continued progress. See here for more details about EU-Ukraine relations. Since 2016, there has been a steady increase in the export of more value-added products, such as machinery and appliances and transport equipment, while the number of companies exporting to the EU has increased from 11,700 companies in 2015 to more than 14,500 companies in 2019. The total trade turnout increased to 52.6 bln USD in 2019. During 2015-2019, Ukraine also increased its export to the EU from 13 bln USD to 24 bln USD. Overall in 2019, Ukrainian export to the EU increased by 3.9%. Now, the EU accounts for almost half of Ukrainian export. The EU remains a key trading partner of Ukraine with a share of 40.1%. See here for more details about EU-Ukraine trade relations. The European Union allocates money to help Ukraine and other countries cope with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. The EU is confident that “together with the support from the International Monetary Fund, the funds will help enhance macroeconomic stability and create space to allow resources to be allocated towards protecting citizens and to mitigating the negative socio-economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.” According to the press release by the European Council, financial assistance will be provided in the form of loans on highly favourable terms. The European Union does not recognise Crimea's annexation and continues to condemn it as a violation of international law. EU sanctions continue to be in place against Russia as a consequence of the annexation. For the EU's statement on the sixth anniversary of Crimea annexation see here.

Disinfo: NATO is a geopolitical instrument of the US

Speaking about the “brain death” of NATO Macron had in mind only one, but very significant circumstance. The fact is that the North Atlantic Alliance, where the most developed European countries and their minions are “hanging out”, has long been transformed from a military instrument into a geopolitical one. And only one member of the bloc is managing this tool – the United States. This is not surprising, because, as you know, the one who pays controls the music. Washington pays for the maintenance of the largest military-political bloc in history. So it reserves the right to use this tool exclusively for its own geopolitical purposes.

Jun 25, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative on NATO as a geopolitical project of the US. NATO was founded in 1949 by twelve sovereign nations: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States. It has since grown to 29 Allies who each took an individual and sovereign decision to join this Alliance. All decisions in NATO are taken by consensus, which means that a decision can only be taken if every single member accepts it. No member of the Alliance can order the deployment of armed forces of other member states. See similar pro-Kremlin disinformation cases alleging that NATO is fully subordinated to the USA and Baltic states, Moldova and Poland are NATO “hostages”, NATO is serving one master – the US, The US needs NATO to keep the Europeans under tight control.

Disinfo: Soros fully controls Ukraine

Billionaire George Soros took control of Ukraine. Soros gained significant influence during the change of Ukrainian presidents and governments. Soros openly intervened in the political struggle and provoked internal conflicts in Ukraine.

Jun 25, 2020
Disproof

Baseless conspiracy theory and recurrent disinformation narrative claiming that Ukraine became a puppet of the US, the EU or the West because they fomented a coup. Ukraine is a sovereign and independent state with a democratically-elected President and parliament. You can find here several disinformation cases on Ukraine being under foreign control.George Soros is a frequent target of pro-Kremlin disinformation and conspiracy theories, as summarised in this article. Ukraine is furthermore not subject to an "internal conflict", but a Russian, state-led aggression. Regarding the claims about George Soros, it's ridiculous to suggest one person can 'gain control' of a sovereign state. Ukraine is a democracy and the electorate decides who is "in control". Mr Soros did found the "Open Society Foundation", inspired by Karl Popper’s concept of the “open society”, which aims to promote civil society, the rule of law, human rights and liberal democracy around the world by funding civil society groups. The International Renaissance Foundation is a Ukrainian NGO founded by Soros; it played an important role in supporting civil society during the Euromaidan protests. The foundation ensured that legal aid was made available throughout the crisis to civic activists, protesters, and journalists; supplied victims of violence with medical care; enabled civil society solidarity and organisation; supported channels like Hromadske TV in independent, live reporting about events on the Maidan; and documented cases of torture, beatings, and police and abuse by the courts. However this in no way can be linked to taking control of a society or country. See previous cases alleging that George Soros will buy all banks and land in Ukraine and that he will soon gain control of the country.