Disinfo: US is like 4th Reich

Summary

[Context: US policy in Venezuela] This is an absolute rule. US is a country that has a clear destiny, which, a bit like the 3rd Reich, believe they are better than all others. They may merit the nickname of the 4th Reich from this point of view.

Disproof

Recurrent conspiracy narrative on the US having Nazi-like features. Background on the situation in Venezuela: Nicolas Maduro was officially re-elected president of Venezuela on May 20, 2018. Several Venezuelan NGOs, such as Foro Penal Venezolano, Súmate, Voto Joven, the Venezuelan Electoral Observatory and the Citizen Electoral Network, expressed their concern over the irregularities of the electoral schedule, including the lack of the Constituent Assembly's competencies to summon the elections, impeding participation of opposition political parties, and the lack of time for standard electoral functions. After that the European Union, the Organization of American States, the Lima Group, Australia and the United States expressed concerns on electoral process. In the declaration on behalf of the EU on the situation in Venezuela the High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini reiterated that the presidential elections last May in Venezuela were neither free, fair, nor credible, lacking democratic legitimacy. The EU has called for the urgent holding of free, transparent and credible presidential elections in Venezuela.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 148
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 06/05/2019
  • Outlet language(s) French
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Venezuela, US
  • Keywords: Donald Trump, Coup
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Disinfo: Moldova imports fewer products from the EU

The share of EU countries in total Moldovan imports decreased from 48.33% to 46.61%. Compared to the same period in 2018, imports to Moldova of goods from the EU in January-February 2019 increased by only 0.05% to $ 387.73 million. The largest volumes of imports to Moldova from the EU countries in the first 2 months of 2019 came from Romania, Germany, Italy, Poland and France.

Disproof

This article has a headline that is misleading. According to information from the National Bureau of Statistics from Republic of Moldova, Moldovan imports from EU countries grew in the first two months of 2019, despite the headline's claiming the opposite. According to official data, in the first two months of 2017, the Republic of Moldova imported products from EU countries worth 273.402 thousand US dollars. In the first two months of 2019, Moldova imported products worth 387,729 thousand US dollars. Therefore, the trend is an upward trend. National Bureau of Statistics shows that in 2018 compared to 2017, imports of goods from the EU in Moldova increased by 19.4% to 2 billion 851.7 million US dollars.

Disinfo: There was coup d’état in Ukraine in 2014

There was coup d’état in Ukraine in February 2014. Political and economic relations between Russia and Western countries had deteriorated after the coup in Ukraine in 2014. After the coup d’état in Kyiv in February 2014, there were mass protests in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about Euromaidan. The spontaneous onset of the Euromaidan protests was a reaction of numerous parts of the Ukrainian population to former President Yanukovych’s sudden departure from the Association Agreement with the European Union in November 2013. See the previous debunk here. The 2014 presidential election in Ukraine was a genuine election largely in line with international commitments and respecting fundamental freedoms, despite the hostile security environment in two eastern regions of the country. According to the OSCE, "the people of Ukraine had the opportunity to genuinely express their will at the ballot box". This fact was reconfirmed by the parliamentary elections of 26 October 2014. The OSCE characterised the vote as "an amply contested election that offered voters real choice, and a general respect for fundamental freedoms".

Disinfo: The EU and the US block rebuilding of Syria

Rebuilding of Syria is blocked by EU sanctions and US oil embargo. Millions were devoted for the reconstruction of Notre-Dame, but the reconstruction and restoration of the Syrian churches takes place only sporadically with church and private funds.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the Syrian war. The EU is the leading donor in the international response to the Syrian crisis. In 2017, the EU, together with Ministers from Canada, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the UK and the US emphasised that recovery and reconstruction support for Syria hinges on a credible political process leading to a genuine political transition that can be supported by a majority of the Syrian people. Since the beginning of the Syrian crisis, the EU has mobilised all political and humanitarian tools at its disposal in support of the Syrian people, remaining one of the main supporters of UN-led efforts to reach a political solution and the main humanitarian donor for Syrians, with over €16.9 billion mobilised collectively from EU Member States in humanitarian, development, economic and stabilisation assistance. Moreover, €10 billion was made available by the EU in 2018 to enable de-mining in liberated areas. This de-mining work is intended to make infrastructure and land safe for use once again, and also includes mine risk education for local populations, for returnees, and for displaced people.