Disinfo: There is no political will in Poland to normalise its relations with Russia

Summary

In order to normalise bilateral relations, Poland should react to the Russian appeals for dialogue and mutual respect not in words but in deeds. There are no insurmountable obstacles to the normalisation of Polish-Russian relations. All the existing problems can be solved if there is political will on both sides. However, at the present moment, Russia does not see this political will on the part of Poland.

Disproof

This message is a part of the Kremlin’s widespread narrative about anti-Russian, Russophobic Poland, deliberately worsening its relations with Russia and supporting American interests in the region.

The arrival of a new Polish Ambassador to Moscow illustrates that Poland is interested in having normal diplomatic relations with Russia. On 28 March 2021, the new Polish Ambassador to Russia gave an interview to Russian media, where he stated that Poland was open to dialogue with Russia. The Polish authorities have repeatedly stated that Poland is willing to improve its relations with Russia – on the condition that Russia starts observing the regulations of international law. In a statement of 21 December 2019, the Polish authorities reiterated their openness to continue the historical dialogue with Russia, for example, through restarting the work of the bilateral Group on Difficult Issues.

Current issues in Polish-Russian relations are directly connected with Russia's actions (continuous violation of international law, anti-Polish "historical" accusations, ungrounded expulsion of a Polish diplomat, to name a few).

See other examples of similar messages claiming that Poland has no reasons to have tense relations with Russia, but is only a US vassal statePoland uses the situation around Navalny as a pretext for the next anti-Russian attack and the Polish Government deliberately worsens its relations with Russia.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 238
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 01/04/2021
  • Article language(s) Polish
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Poland, Russia
  • Keywords: Maria Zakharova, Diplomacy with Russia, Anti-Russian
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Disinfo: The EU gives Ukraine carte blanche on repressive policy

Ukraine has received a carte blanche from the European Union to pursue a repressive policy, which includes the introduction of censorship, the elimination of political opposition and the persecution of dissidents. Leading European politicians do not care about human rights abuses in post-Maidan Ukraine because they see it as the main testing ground for the containment of Russia.

Disproof

This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin media outlets.

EU promote political freedom in Ukraine with free media and absence of censorship. The EU also issued a strong statement in July 2020 that criticised a parliamentary bill aimed at regulating the media. The statement called on Kyiv to hold public hearings on that bill and harmonise it with EU regulations. In accordance with the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, Ukraine has agreed to correlate its media legislation with European standards.

Disinfo: Western countries attempt to carry out a coup in Belarus

Sanctions were imposed on the import of European goods and services in light of attempts by Western countries to carry out a coup in the republic.

As [...] reported, the pro-Western opposition in Belarus has been trying to launch a revolutionary scenario since last year. The coup plotters are supported by Western countries. Poland and Lithuania are directly supervising the coup.

The reason for this venturous plan was the presidential election. Alexander Lukashenko won it, but both the European Union and the USA refused to recognise the results of the vote.

Disproof

A recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about Western attempts to organise a coup or colour revolution in Belarus.

The protests in Belarus erupted to contest the results of the presidential election on the 9th of August 2020, which were not monitored by independent experts, and are largely considered fraudulent by both international observers and a big part of the Belarusian society. On 19 August 2020, the European Council called Belarusian elections neither free nor fair.

Disinfo: Events in Myanmar are Western anti-Chinese provocation

It is wrong to designate a political regime in Myanmar as junta because the military just used their constitutional rights to replace the government following the rigged elections just like it had happened in the US.

The news about killed protesters in Myanmar cannot be trusted because it is published by global news agencies. Organisations like the Burma Human Rights Network are based in western countries and feed the public with the information they want.

The tactics used in Myanmar are similar to those previously used in Belarus, Russia, and Hong Kong. It consists of provocations with the aim to incite a civil war. Protesters take hostages or attack them in order to provoke the military, particularly against kids. Protesters attack the armed military personnel and kids must be present in the crowd where such protesters hide. Moreover, protesters make arsons which also amounts to terrorism.

The ultimate target of Myanmar events is China. Everything that has been happening in Myanmar over the last 30 years, was aimed at disruption of Myanmar-China ties.

Disproof

This publication provides a manipulative view on events in Myanmar and serves as an example of a big conspiracy, which groundlessly attributes groundbreaking events in Belarus, Myanmar, Russia and elsewhere to vicious activities of some western actors.

There is no evidence supporting the claims about events in Myanmar as an anti-Chinese provocation by outside forces. Read our past analysis "Why authoritarians love the concept of the big conspiracy" and a similar earlier disinformation case claiming that London-based headquarters organise colour revolutions in Belarus, Myanmar, Russia, and the US.