DISINFO: US interferes in Russian politics by posting Navalny-protest routes
SUMMARY
The US announced the routes of protesters in Russian cities in advance – allegedly to protect its own citizens from the dangers of an unsanctioned demonstration in corona times. However, the Russian Foreign Office did not give credence to this argument.
The US Embassy’s announcement of the march routes for unauthorised protests in 12 major Russian cities was criticised as improper. This is indirectly an absolute interference in Russia’s internal affairs. This would also mean direct support for breaking the law, as the actions had not been sanctioned.
Comments were made on the publication, criticising it as “disregard for diplomatic norms and rules.” Such broad data went beyond “caring” for Russia’s own citizens and instead constituted “support for unsanctioned protests in Russian cities.” The US had encouraged “violent actions” that were “hypocritically declared as a peaceful protest.”
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation associated with the poisoning and imprisonment of Russian opposition figure and Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.
While the narrative alleges that the US moved to interfere with Russian domestic affairs and therefore violated Russia's sovereignty, the aforementioned statement, which was published by the US Embassy in Moscow and the US State Department, specifically advised US citizens residing in Russia to stay away from the demonstrations.
It is common practice in diplomacy for embassies to inform foreign nationals in a country about potentially risky political events by issuing so-called Demonstration Alerts.
The disinformation narrative builds on previous claims alleging that it was the Western secret services that are associated with Navalny's poisoning, not the Russian. On December 14, a joint investigative report of CNN, Bellingcat, The Insider Russia and Der Spiegel revealed that the Kremlin-controlled Federal Security Services was behind the poisoning.