Disinfo: US and EU conspired to overthrow Viktor Yanukovych

Summary

In 2014, [...] the United States and the European Union conspired to overthrow the legitimately elected President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, and replace him with a team of Ukrainian nationalists.

Disproof

Recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the role of the US and the EU in 2014 Euromaidan in Ukraine.

In 2014, there was no coup, nor a western orchestrated protest in Ukraine.

The demonstrations which began in Kyiv in November 2013 – called "Maidan", or "Euromaidan" – were a result of the Ukrainian people's frustration with the former President Yanukovych. After seven years of negotiation, he refused to sign the EU–Ukraine Association Agreement and halted progress towards Ukraine's closer relationship with the EU due to Russian pressure.

The protesters' demands included constitutional reform, a stronger role for parliament, the formation of a government of national unity, an end to corruption, early presidential elections and an end to violence.

Ukraine's government changed its relations toward Russia after the latter illegally annexed Crimea, which is part of Ukraine.

The EU is among the strongest advocates of Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. The EU and the US work closely with Ukraine and support the democratic development of Ukraine in accordance with the UN Charter’s principles of non-interference into internal affairs and respect towards territorial integrity and political independence.

See similar disinformation cases claiming that Euromaidan protests were organised by foreign governments: Gauleiter Biden and the US were behind the Orange revolution 2004 and the coup of 2014; Obama staged a coup in Ukraine, allowing Nazis to assume power; the US organised a coup in 2014 in Kyiv and now wants Ukraine to start a war against Russia.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 265
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 06/11/2021
  • Article language(s) German, English
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine, EU, US
  • Keywords: Euromaidan, Coup
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Disinfo: The EU adopts sanctions against Belarus to manage its own internal contradictions

An upcoming new EU package of sanctions against Belarus coincides with heightened internal contradictions in the EU. It was apparent from the very beginning of the sanctions policy that the EU policies towards Belarus are skillfully used by political technologists to cement the EU countries' unity and to manage internal contradictions among them.

Earlier the EU treated migrants from the Middle East as 'right', now that they get to the EU through Belarus, they are regarded as 'wrong'. In both cases the actual source of the migration crisis is the EU, which had been actively using destabilising technologies abroad for its geopolitical and economic interests. Once the EU realises that irregular migration flows stem from its irresponsible policies, it will quickly overcome its internal crisis. The EU has stopped being the source of European values from a Christian standpoint.

Disproof

This publication obfuscates the actual reasons behind EU sanctions against the Belarusian regime and promotes recurring disinformation narratives about European values and the ongoing migration situation on the eastern border of the European Union with Belarus.

The EU did not recognise the falsified results of the Belarusian Presidential election on 9 August 2020 or the new mandate claimed by Alyaksandr Lukashenka. On 19 August 2020, the European Council called the Belarus elections neither free nor fair and on 2 October 2020, the Council imposed restrictive measures against 40 individuals identified as responsible for repression and intimidation against peaceful demonstrators, opposition members, and journalists, as well as for misconduct of the electoral process.

Disinfo: The residents of Moldova aren’t satisfied with the policies of the new government

The residents of Moldova aren’t satisfied with the policies of the new government, according to a survey. The residents of Moldova were asked if they think the republic is developing in the right direction. While immediately after the July elections 52.4% of participants in the survey thought that Moldova was heading the right direction, 36.4% was certain that the country needed to change political course and 11.2% was undecided, in October 42.2% of the population supports the course taken by authorities, 40.9% believe that the country is in the wrong track, and the number of undecided rose to 16.7%.

Disproof

This disinformation story seems to be part of a long-term disinformation campaign against Moldovan president Maia Sandu, whose political formation secured on the 11 July 2021 election a majority of seats in the parliament against the pro-Russian party Bloc of Communists and Socialists.

The article doesn’t provide any information about the survey that allows to check its validity, or its actual existence, such as the polling firm who carried it out. In any case, even with the results included in the story, the headline is wrong: it would be incorrect to say that “the residents of Moldova aren’t satisfied”, as this data shows wide population strips both in favour of and against the government’s policies, in very similar numbers. Not only that: the results show that a majority of Moldovan citizens support the actions of the current authorities.

Disinfo: Lithuania aggressively violates human rights

[...] Anti-democratic processes are taking place in Lithuania too. They are violating universal humanitarian values and human rights. Constitutional rights in Lithuania are violated very aggressively. The question of human rights is often only a question of LGBT rights.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation message about the violation of human rights in Lithuania.

“Freedom House” defines Lithuania as “a democracy in which political rights and civil liberties are generally respected”. Lithuanian “Global Freedom Score” is 90 points (from 100).