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Disinfo: Ukraine will turn land into a commodity and sell it in exchange for another billion from the IMF

Summary

Apparently, the new Kyiv government is in a hurry to turn natural wealth into a commodity and sell it to Western partners in exchange for another billion from the IMF.

Disproof

This is a recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about the requirements of the IMF and its work in Ukraine. The IMF constantly talked about the need for land reform in Ukraine, but in 2017 this requirement was postponed. In January 2019, the fund again spoke about the necessity of the land market, naming this reform among the opportunities to fundamentally transform the Ukrainian economy. During the conference “Land as a factor in the development of the Ukrainian village,” President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that “in the model that we offer with the government, only Ukrainian citizens or Ukrainian companies can buy or sell land. Horror stories about the Chinese, Arabs or aliens who will take our land by wagons - this is nonsense. The land is the property of citizens,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine has published a draft law that will open the land market next year. The explanatory note lists those who will be able to buy ownership of agricultural land: “citizens of Ukraine, territorial communities, the state, legal entities of Ukraine and foreign citizens or stateless persons in case of acquisition by inheritance and the obligation to alienate the plot during the year.” Further debunking by Stopfake.org.

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tvzvezda.ru (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 166
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 27/09/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Keywords: Economic difficulties, IMF
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Western propaganda masters control mass demonstrations

Under the guise of a concrete pressing issue (a factual problem, often a social one, concerning violations of rights of certain individuals or segments of a community), chosen by Western propaganda masters waging the information war, a targeted message containing half-truths is sent via messengers with the expectation that it will cause a strong reaction from individuals, which can then be transformed into mass demonstrations and “social unrest” (as is the case, for example, in Hong Kong on orders from Western elites).

Sep 26, 2019
Disproof

Conspiracy theory presented without evidence. Pro-Kremlin media have long used the narrative about anti-government protests being funded by the US. Examples include colour revolutions in post-Soviet states, the “Arab Spring” revolts, and Ukraine's Euromaidan in 2014. Western non-governmental organisations are often targeted by pro-Kremlin disinformation as agents of this subversive and state-driven influence. For similar cases, see here.

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Sep 26, 2019
Disproof

No evidence is provided to support the claim. A claim, consistent with pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the US supporting terrorism. You can see other examples of this narrative here, here, here and here.

The EU ignores Russia's efforts to reconcile an equal dialogue

The European Union is an unreliable partner which ignores all Russia’s efforts to reconcile an equal dialogue. The EU is an unreliable partner because it continues to play geopolitics with Russia or against Russia. All Russian efforts to reconcile an equal dialogue and to renounce the ‘friend-enemy’ logic in the common space have been fruitless.

Sep 26, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative on Western belligerence towards Russia and the EU attempting to isolate Russia. While aware of pro-Kremlin disinformation campaigns, the EU is trying to keep open channels of communications with Russia. Russia is the EU's largest neighbour, which has always been reflected in extensive cooperation and exchange over the 25 years. Russia is a key player in the UN Security Council and, due to history, geographic proximity, and cultural links, is one of the key players in Europe and its neighbourhood. The current legal basis for EU-Russia relations is the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) which came into force in 1997, initially for 10 years. Since 2007 it has been renewed annually. It established a political framework for regular consultation between the EU and Russia, based on the principles of respect for democracy and human rights, political and economic freedom, and commitment to international peace and security. Since 2014, illegal annexation of Crimea and the conflict in Eastern Ukraine have seriously affected the bilateral political dialogue. As a result, some of the policy dialogues and mechanisms of cooperation are temporarily frozen, and sanctions directed at promoting a change in Russia's actions in Ukraine have been adopted. However, Russia remains a natural partner for the EU and a strategic player combating the regional and global challenges. Moreover, the EU and its member states have maintained a clear policy of reaching out to Russian society and youth, mainly through the Erasmus+ student exchange programme and other people to people contacts, in line with five guiding principles of relations with Russia.