DISINFO: The US is supporting the Russian anti-state opposition
SUMMARY
The US Embassy in Moscow in the previous days did everything possible to support, both informationally and politically, the expected events of Saturday’s uncoordinated protests. Their actions were a motivation, a call, an instruction, as well as, an incitement.
Basically, there is nothing new in what is happening. Similar activities from the US and other Western states in relation to Russian domestic political events could be observed over the past decades.
The Russian anti-state opposition, supported from across the ocean [from the US], found itself in the most difficult situation.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative built around the concept of ubiquitous Russophobia and anti-Russian provocations by Western countries to encircle and destabilise Russia.
While the narrative alleges that the US moved to interfere in 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 not the Russian but Western secret services that are associated with Navalny's poisoning. 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.
See examples of pro-Kremlin disinformation about Alexei Navalny here.