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Disinfo: Russia does not interfere in internal affairs of African states

Summary

Moscow does not interfere into politics, social programs and ideology of the internal political life of its customers and partners.

Disproof

There is ample evidence of Russia’s involvement in the internal affairs of different states in Africa and the Middle East. For instance, Russian paramilitary organisation Wagner Group has been involved in military conflicts and civil unrest in Africa. According to Bloomberg, the Wagner Group works in at least 10 African countries, such as Sudan, Central African Republic, Angola, and Zimbabwe. On Madagascar, the Group accompanied the Russian political experts who were advising some of the presidential candidates on general elections in 2018. Wagner Group also provides military assistance in exchange for access to mineral resources. More on Wagner Group’s involvement is here and here. Moreover, it is also a fact that Russia is involved in numerous conflicts around the world, from Syria to Ukraine.

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publication/media

Ria Novosti (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 170
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 28/10/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Country: Middle East and Africa, Africa, Russia
  • Keywords: Middle East and North Africa, Russian expansionism, Africa
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Ukrainian autocephalous church is a US project

It is no secret that the creation of this schismatic church formation in Ukraine is an American project aimed at undermining the position of the canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine – the Ukrainian Orthodox Church [of the Moscow Patriarchy].

Oct 27, 2019
Disproof

A conspiracy theory presented without any evidence. Pro-Kremlin disinformation outlets have frequently attacked the establishment of an autocephalous Ukrainian church. The Constantinople Patriarchy, not the US, decided to grant the autocephaly to the Ukrainian church. The final decision was made in January 2019, when all members of the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate signed off the Tomos of autocephaly. The signing of the Tomos happened after months of careful preparations and considerations by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Holy Synod.

The US forced the Greek church to recognise Ukrainian autocephaly

The Greek Church decided to recognise the right of the Istanbul Patriarch Bartholomew to grant autocephaly to the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine after pressure from the [US] Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Oct 27, 2019
Disproof

A conspiracy theory presented without any supporting evidence. Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The process of recognition was initiated by the Orthodox Church of Greece on 8 January 2019, when the Permanent Synod of the Church of Greece decided that the issue of recognition would be dealt by the Synod of the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece. In February, the Synod of the Church decided to appoint two commissions to study the issue. In August, the commissions presented a report and recommended to recognise the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. On 12 October, the primate of the church Ieronymos II of Athens and other hierarchs supported the conclusions and voted for the recognition, stating that “the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople has the right to granting autocephaly”.

Al-Baghdadi and ISIS sprang up as a result of US actions in the Middle East

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi appeared because of the Americans. Without them, he would not have appeared, like ISIS itself.

Oct 27, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative claiming that US is behind the creation of ISIS/Daesh. This message is part of a broader conspiracy theory alleging that the United States and its NATO partners have established many terrorist organisations and control global terrorism. In fact, the US is part of the global coalition against Daesh. See similar messages about the US being behind terrorist organisations here, here and here.