Disinfo: US sanctions against Russia are illegal

Summary

The United States uses the policy of trade sanctions, and these restrictions imposed on a number of countries are illegal from the point of view of international law.

Disproof

This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about international sanctions against Russia.

In December 2018, the US imposed sanctions on Russian persons "in response to Russia’s 2014 invasion of Ukraine, election interference, malicious cyber-enabled activities, human rights abuses, use of a chemical weapon, weapons proliferation, illicit trade with North Korea, and support to Syria."

Earlier, In August 2017, the US imposed sanctions on Russia over its alleged interference in the 2016 US presidential election, its illegal annexation of Crimea, and its involvement in Syria’s civil war. At that time, sanctions were introduced against entities doing business with Russian military or intelligence agencies, companies involved in Russian off-shore oil projects, and those participating in Russian oil or gas pipeline construction within Russia.

The economic sanctions imposed on Russia were a reaction to Russia's illegal annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014. Sanctions were imposed not only by the United States but also by Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the European Union and other European countries outside the EU, including Ukraine.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 184
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 10/02/2020
  • Outlet language(s) Arabic
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: US, Russia
  • Keywords: International Law, Sanctions
see more

Disinfo: Coronavirus is a tool to weaken Chinese economy

It is more than a possibility that this virus is a tool used by another superpower [the US] to undermine the Chinese economy and even China’s “population reduction program,” the environmental situation in China continues to deteriorate.

Disproof

Fear over coronavirus has indeed affected China's stock markets, but assessing the virus as an artificial, man-made problem is part of the recurring pro-Kremlin narrative on secret labs and biological weapons. It is also consistent with the narrative that the spread of coronavirus is in the interest of the US to weaken China economically.

In response to the outbreak of the coronavirus, the Chinese authorities have placed more than a dozen cities under quarantine. The World Health Organisation is working with Chinese authorities and global experts to learn more about the virus. The virus "2019-nCoV” comes from a family of viruses that include the common cold, and viruses such as SARS and MERS. There is no evidence to suggest it was developed artificially as a weapon of mass destruction.

Disinfo: Ukraine is not going to treat the virus of nationalism

The virus of nationalism, which Kyiv considers as the lesser of evils, is now preventing it from going where Ukraine is trying to go. Nobody is going to treat this virus, the circle has closed, and Zelenskyy needs to either revise the language law or forget about NATO.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about Ukrainian nationalists and the disintegration of Ukraine with no evidence given.

Far-right groups enjoyed a very limited presence during the Euromaidan itself and had poor results in the 2014 presidential and parliamentary elections. The "Right Sector" candidate received 0.7% of the vote in the May 2014 presidential elections and the party received 1.8% of the vote in the October 2014 parliamentary elections. In the 2019 election cycle, far-right candidates fell short of the 5% minimum guaranteeing entry into parliament.

Disinfo: Western Balkans countries have a deficit of euroenthusiasm

European Union is not assured how the enlargement process will look in perspective, especially because of Western Balkans countries which have a deficit of euroenthusiasm.

Disproof

Recurring disinformation narrative about the end of the EU integrations.

According to the Eurobarometer Survey, published in 2019, Serbia is the only Western Balkan country whose citizens have more trust in the national government (41%) than in the European Union (33%). In North Macedonia, these figures are 57% for EU and 33% for the national government, in Albania 69% to 40% and the result in Montenegro is 47% to 43%.