Disinfo: US sanctions against Turkey are illegal

Summary

The sanctions recently applied by the United States against Turkey because of the procurement by Ankara of the S-400 Russian antimissile system are illegal under international law. They are one more sign of an arrogant policy followed by the United States over the last few decades.

Disproof

This story is part of a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative that Western sanctions in general and Western sanctions against Russia in particular are illegal, unjust and ineffective.

Sanctions against Turkey were applied under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) which specifically mentions Russia under Title II (Sanctions with Respect to the Russian Federation and Combatting Terrorism and Illicit Financing).

Additionally, on September 20 2018, President Donald Trump delegated the authority to implement the actions required in CAATSA to the Secretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury in Executive Order (EO) 13849. Under this decision, the US Treasury sanctioned officials and targeted entities supporting Russia's occupation of Crimea.

The sanctions against Turkey were imposed against the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) and four of its senior officials as Ankara decided to procure the S-400 surface-to-air antimissile system from Russia. The United States had repeatedly warned Turkey that the Russian system constitutes a risk both for the interoperability of NATO defence systems but also for the security F-35 aircrafts. Furthermore, the U.S. has already informally sanctioned Turkey by suspending its participation in the F-35 programme and maintaining control of F-35 air systems for which Ankara has already paid.

Further reading on the Russian narrative about ineffective Western sanctions can be consulted in this article by StopFake. More cases related to sanctions are available here.

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sputniknews.gr (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 224
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 14/12/2020
  • Outlet language(s) Greek
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Turkey, US, Russia
  • Keywords: Sergei Lavrov, Sanctions
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Disinfo: International Criminal Court demonises Russia in the Ukrainian conflict

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court is trying not only to make Russia a participant in the conflict but also to impose on Russia the duties of an “occupying power” both in relation to Crimea (she directly writes: “Russia’s annexation of Crimea”) and in relation to the eastern regions of Ukraine.

The prosecutor fulfils an order for the legal demonisation of Russia in the Ukrainian conflict. And she does it legally so rudely that there is no doubt about the unscrupulous nature of her actions.

The individuals who committed a coup d’etat in the country and used violence against a part of their own population are regarded in The Hague as legitimate authority!

Dec 13, 2020
Disproof

This is an example of recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation on Ukraine and, in particular, the examination by the International Criminal Court of the crimes committed in Ukraine during the 2013-2014 protests in Crimea and Donbas.

The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) did not demonise Russia. The Prosecutor did not call Russia an occupying power in Crimea or Donbas. In the statement, the Prosecutor mentioned that in order to establish the truth, the ICC is going to cooperate with the authorities of Ukraine and Russia equally.

Disinfo: AstraZeneca fails to create a vaccine without Russia

AstraZeneca, realising that they, the British, do not succeed with their vaccine, took a reasonable step and said: let’s be together. And now they are working with the Russian Direct Investment Fund to really be able to fight the coronavirus.

Dec 13, 2020
Disproof

A narrative, overstating the cooperation between the Gamaleya Research Institute and British AstraZeneca.

AstraZeneca's Russian subsidiary announced that it plans to begin a clinical trial programme to assess the safety and immunogenicity of a combination of COVID-19 vaccines (AZD1222, developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University and Sputnik V, developed by Russian Gamaleya Research institute).

Disinfo: Sanctions are unproductive because Russia is not a part in the Ukrainian conflict

Heads of EU Member States agreed to extend sanctions against Russia. The relations between Moscow and West had deteriorated due to the situation in Ukraine. After the referendum, Crimea became part of the Russian Federation. West accused Russia of interference into affairs of Ukraine and implemented sanctions against Moscow. Russia answered and changed the vector of import. Russian authorities stressed that negotiations with Russia from positions of sanctions are unproductive. Russia many times affirmed that it does not participate in the Ukrainian conflict and is not a side in Minsk peace agreements.

Dec 11, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation about the war in Ukraine, illegal annexation of Crimea and Western sanctions against Russia.

Crimea is a part of Ukraine, however, it was illegally annexed by Russia. The so-called referendum of March 16, 2014, was illegitimate under international law. No international body recognises it. Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted that the plan to annex Crimea was ordered weeks before the so-called referendum.