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Disinfo: Trump faced several coup attempts, including the impeachment and the Russian collusion fraud

Summary

President Donald Trump faced political persecution, and had to defend himself even against the several coup attempts, such as the impeachment and the fraud of the Russian collusion.

Disproof

Conspiracy theory, with no evidence provided to support the claim. This is a recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about an alleged plot against president Donald Trump by undemocratic powers, articulated through a “fake Russiagate” and an impeachment process. The 2019 impeachment was not a coup attempt but an entirely legal procedure contemplated by the US Senate legislation, whose aim was to determine whether President Trump committed high crimes and misdemeanours by 1) pressing a foreign government (Ukraine's) to harm a domestic political rival, former vice president and current Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, and 2) trying to impede a Congressional investigation by blocking testimony and refusing to provide documents in response to House subpoenas. Regarding to collusion with Russia, there were plenty of reasons for US authorities to open an investigation, as the Volume 5 of the Intelligence Committee of the US Senate on Russian Interference in the 2016 election (released in August 2020) shows, which highlights many elements that were not cleared by the previous Mueller Report. Though Mueller’s inquiry only had stated that the investigation “did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities”, it unequivocally established that Russia attempted to interfere in the election on Trump’s favour. Pro-Kremlin disinformation, however, has repeatedly portrayed Mueller’s work as proof that there was no such interference and that Russia is always falsely accused. See other examples of these disinformation narratives, such as claims that the Deep State is behind the racial justice protests in the US; that Trump’s impeachment was a failed plot by a group of Democrats obsessed with Soros, who had links to the whistleblower who triggered the inquiry; that the NYT story on Trump’s tax returns proves that the Russiagate is a hoax; that the CIA is organising a colour revolution in the US to oust Trump after the 2020 election; or that US Democrats are trying to destroy Trump and incite a civil war. This disinformation message appeared in the same article as the claim that “Biden refused to condemn street violence because he fears losing electoral weight.”

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RT Spanish (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 214
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 30/09/2020
  • Outlet language(s) Spanish, Castilian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: US, Russia
  • Keywords: Donald Trump, Coup
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Imperialistic Poland and Lithuania are the springboard for Belarusian Maidan

Poland and Lithuania are the springboards for Belarusian Maidan. The Belarusian opposition has long been based in Lithuania, whereas Poland has been making preparations for a Belarusian Maidan for years. Poland aims at putting its protégé on a throne and making Belarus its colony. This way, Warsaw plans to increase its role in the EU and to establish a bridgehead on Russian borders. It also wants to restore the Polish empire with a new ideological “sauce”.

Sep 29, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the Belarusian protests; and about imperial and colonial intentions of Poland and Lithuania, as well as about their anti-Russian activities. Poland fully supports the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine and Belarus, it does not have any territorial claims against its neighbours and it rejects any “imperial” ambitions towards other countries. There is no evidence that Poland, Lithuania or any other Western governments including the US are involved in any way in the protests in Belarus. The European Council condemned the violence against peaceful protesters. "As the elections in Belarus were neither free nor fair, and did not meet international standards, the EU does not recognise the results presented by the Belarus authorities," states a European Council press release. On the 2nd October, the Council imposed restrictive measures against 40 individuals identified as responsible for repression and intimidation against peaceful demonstrators, opposition members and journalists in the wake of the 2020 presidential election in Belarus, as well as for misconduct of the electoral process. The large-scale Belarusian protests began in Minsk on August 9 against the results of the presidential election, and then in other cities. People revolted against election fraud and police violence towards thousands of rally participants. The US and NATO did not increase their military presence near the Belarusian borders following the elections. On 16 August, NATO dismissed allegations that it was conducting a military buildup near the country’s western border. See earlier disinformation cases claiming that the EU is trying to disrupt Belarus-Russia relations, that the West's only interest in Belarus is to make it anti-Russian, that Polish authorities are obsessed with an idea of reconstruction of a modern Polish empire, that Poland and Lithuania wish to colonise Belarus and Ukraine, and that Poland and Lithuania are destabilising Belarus to turn it into a Russophobic limitrophe.

Armenia and Azerbaijan are part of historic Russia, their independence is accidental

Russia will prevent a full-fledged protracted war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Both countries are not just located in the Russian sphere of influence, but also belong to the post-Soviet space. Hence, they are part of historic Russia, be it the Russian empire or the USSR. Three decades of independence do not make Armenia and Azerbaijan accomplished sovereign states. Actual sustainable statehood does not stem from an accidental historical occasion such as the break up of the USSR. Armenians and Azeris received their countries largely accidentally.

Sep 29, 2020
Disproof

This is rare example of a pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the Russian world applied to Armenia and Azerbaijan. It is used much more often to denigrate the history and statehood of Belarus and Ukraine. Armenia and Azerbaijan are sovereign countries and are well-defined nation-states with a long history; both nations preserved language, literature and identity, despite foreign rule for long periods. The recent escalation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region is a continuation of the decades-old conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia. It is reported that nearly 100 people, including civilians, have died as of 29 September 2020. On 27 September, the EU High Representative Josep Borrell made a statement calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities, de-escalation and for strict observance of the ceasefire. The USSR collapsed as a result of many socio-economic and political factors, its break-up was not an accidental occasion as alleged in the article. See earlier disinformation cases claiming that the war in Donbas is a consequence of USSR’s break-up and ban against Russian language, that the West destroyed the USSR and is currently targeting the Union State between Belarus and Russia, that the West destabilises Belarus to destroy Russian civilisation, an alternative route of human development, and that Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was staged by third parties to divert Russia from Belarus and Syria.

The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh is a cover-up operation, just as the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 was

The ongoing events in Nagorno-Karabakh resemble the 1956 scheme when the West instigated an uprising in Hungary to cover-up the war against Egypt. Today, the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh was escalated to divert Russian attention from Belarus. In other words, this is a cover-up operation just as the Hungarian uprising in 1956 was.

Sep 29, 2020
Disproof

This is a conspiracy theory claiming that the recent escalation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the result of deliberate Western actions aimed at harming Russian interests in Belarus. It therefore corresponds to recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about the belligerent and hostile US and West against Russia and fits well into the disinformation narrative that presents virtually all protests, civil uprisings or local conflicts as a consequence of the West's intentional actions. The recent escalation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region is a continuation of the decades-old conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia. It is reported that nearly 100 people, including civilians, have died as of 29 September 2020. On 27 September, the EU High Representative Josep Borrell made a statement calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities, de-escalation and for strict observance of the ceasefire. As we explained in our past analysis, the image of a belligerent West which allegedly provokes protests and local conflicts in Russia's vicinity manufactures a fictional adversary that provides convenient cover for Moscow to justify its illicit activities on the grounds of “defence” and self-preservation. The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 was a spontaneous nationwide uprising against the Hungarian People's Republic and its Soviet-imposed policies. The allegations that either the Hungarian events in 1956 or the recent escalation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were instigated by the West to divert the USSR and Russia from other foreign policy issues are groundless. See earlier disinformation cases alleging that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict favours US interests, someone wants to divert Russia from Belarus and Syria, that the escalation between Armenia and Azerbaijan is directed against Russia, and that the US is ready to carry out a false flag operation in Alaska to blame Russia.