Disinfo: There was a Western plot to kill Belarusian President Lukashenka

Summary

There was a plot by the West to kill Belarusian President Lukashenka.

Disproof

A recurrent pro-Kremlin narrative about Western aggression against Russia and its allies, similar to many cases in the EUvsDisinfo database.

News of the “coup plot” came as Lukashenka was preparing to visit Moscow for talks with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin on 22 April 2021. On the eve of Lukashenka’s visit, Putin raised the alleged plot in his state-of-the-nation speech on 21 April, claiming that what he called “unjust sanctions” against Belarus are escalating into “something more dangerous: a coup attempt in Belarus.”

Previously on 17 April 2021, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed he and his sons were the target of a US-backed assassination plot but did not provide any evidence.

No substantial evidence is presented to support the accusations. The individuals accused of the plot and detained are known members of dissident groups in Belarus. For more info read the analysis of the Atlantic Council.

See similar cases claiming that conspirators were arrested after scheming an attempt to assassinate Lukashenka and that Czech allegations against Russia aim to overshadow failed attempt on Lukashenka’s life.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 242
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 21/04/2021
  • Article language(s) Italian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Belarus, Russia
  • Keywords: Alexander Lukashenko, Coup, West, Conspiracy theory, Vladimir Putin
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Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about sanctions and Russia as innocent of any misdeed.

This disinformation message implies that, given that Donald Trump as US president also imposed sanctions against Russia, and because the recent round of sanctions singled out some relatively unknown Russian outlets such as SouthFront, NewsFront, InfoRos and the Strategic Culture Foundation, the claim that Russia interfered in the 2020 US election to support Donald Trump is ridiculous.

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Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the Vrbětice ammunition warehouse bombings in the Czech Republic. The claim was neither counterbalanced nor critically challenged in the article.

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Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Alexei Navalny and Western Russophobia. The claim that the calls made by Navalny’s team to protest are foreign engineered colour revolutions is a baseless accusation.

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