Disinfo: Ukrainian autocephaly is a tool to split the Orthodox world

Summary

The purpose of the conflict between our church [the Russian Orthodox Church] and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, over the so-called Ukrainian autocephaly, is not to acknowledge the schismatics in Ukraine. The purpose is to split the Russian world from the Greek world.

Disproof

A conspiracy theory, presented without any evidence. Pro-Kremlin disinformation outlets have frequently attacked the establishment of an autocephalous Ukrainian church. The Russian Orthodox church decided to break communication with Constantinople after the latter announced that it would “proceed to the granting of autocephaly to the Church of Ukraine”. On 5 January 2019, after the final decision of the synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Patriarch Bartholomew signed the tomos of autocephaly. In October 2019, the Greek Orthodox Church decided to recognise the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and supported the decision of the Patriarch of Constantinople. For more information on the tomos of the autocephaly see here.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 169
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 18/10/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine, Russia
  • Keywords: West, Orthodox Church, Anti-Russian
see more

Disinfo: Ukrainian diaspora condemned the sanctions policy on Crimea

Ukrainians living abroad condemned the sanctions policy targeting Crimea due to its reunification with Russia.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the illegal annexation of Crimea. This is not the first attempt to create the illusion of international support for the Crimea annexed by Russia. Russian occupying authorities held a round table in Crimea entitled Cooperation of Crimean Ukrainians with compatriots abroad, calling the event a meeting of the Ukrainian diaspora. Among the 15 participants from abroad who came for this round table, were representatives from several post-Soviet countries and from the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics. The World Congress of Ukrainians, the largest public organisation of Ukrainians who live abroad, repeatedly makes statements about the illegal annexation of Crimea, and the need to extend sanctions to increase pressure on Russia.

Disinfo: German missions abroad are under foreign control and produce failed, corrupt states

The Bundeswehr fights thousands of kilometres away from its own borders, under foreign control. And mostly with devastating consequences, even for Germany. Whether Afghanistan or Kosovo, in the end Germany gets a failed, corrupt quasi-state as a mortgage that exports poverty refugees, drugs and criminals. And the USA? They get new US bases abroad.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about German-Western relations, that Germany is not sovereign or governed by "foreign control", and disinformation about German foreign missions. Pro-Kremlin outlets often use this disinformation narrative about different countries being under the American thumb - see other examples here. Germany is an independent and sovereign country and is not dependent on the United States of America in terms of foreign policy making and therefore it is a conspiracy theory presented without any evidence. Germany and the US have close partner relations of two sovereign and independent countries. The claims made about German foreign missions in Kosovo (KFOR) and Afghanistan (Resolute Support) are squandering and false. German missions abroad contribute to the long-term stabilisation of Kosovo and Afghanistan. Significant steps have already been taken to strengthen the security structures on the ground. According to the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), the number of asylum applications in Germany is declining in 2019. This trend has continued since 2015, since a gradual reduction in the number of refugees has been recorded in Germany. An excerpt from the Federal Office's current statistics for September 2019 (page 11 of 19). In the month under review, September 2019, 13,321 asylum procedures were decided by the Federal Office. Most decisions were made for Syria (3,370), Iraq (1,346) and Afghanistan (1,000). Compared to the previous month (15,040 decisions), the number of decisions fell by 11.4%. Compared to the previous year (September 2018: 16,008 decisions), the number of decisions on asylum applications fell by 16.8%. For other disinformation cases see: Germany is a vassal of the US; Germany is the executor of US hegemony over Europe; The USA is controlling Europe through occupied Germany; Germany will have to choose between defending Europe's interest and catering to Washington.