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Disinfo: Vaccines produced by Western pharmaceutical companies are more dangerous than the Sputnik V as the private businesses are driven by profits

Summary

The Russian institute, which invented the [Sputnik V] vaccine, is a very serious scientific institution. We all know that pharmaceutical companies are driven by profits, but not the healthcare needs of the population. For example, they make the following calculations: how many people will go blind from this vaccine – 50 persons out of 100.000? These pharmaceutical companies are the ones who decide whether it is more profitable to pay compensation to the people who went blind because of their vaccine or to invest more efforts into making a better vaccine. This situation is terrifying for me. Thus, I choose the Russian vaccine very willingly, but not necessarily the American vaccine.

Disproof

Disinformation message that tries to cast doubt about the vaccines developed by Western companies.

While Russian vaccine Sputnik V was declared by pro-Kremlin media to be the first vaccine ever registered in the world, it was announced even before the start of phase 3 of the clinical trials, normally required for any new drug. The Russian association of organisations on clinical trials urged Russia to postpone registration because it had not even been tested by hundreds of people.

The fact that the Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology developed the vaccine Sputnik V financed by the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) rather than from a company listed on a stock exchange doesn't make the development process more transparent or free of political and financial interests. Open media published an investigation in October 2020 about the interest links of the Gamaleya Center and its subsidiaries.

See related stories: Russian coronavirus vaccine has dozens of orders, unlike the American one, "Sputnik V" criticism is based on financial motives, The West is waging war over the COVID-19 Sputnik V vaccine.

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Sputnik Poland (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 223
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 05/12/2020
  • Outlet language(s) Polish
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: EU, US, Russia
  • Keywords: Sputnik V, coronavirus, health, vaccination, Russian superiority, Conspiracy theory
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The Baltic states are persecuting the Russian media

In Latvia, criminal proceedings were initiated against some Russian-speaking journalists of Sputnik and Baltnews. They are accused of violating EU sanctions but it is obvious that they are persecuted for cooperation with the Russian news agency. It is a violation of the norms of a democratic society, restriction of press freedom and freedom of speech.

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The authorities of the Baltic States systematically harm Russian media. They obstruct the work of Russian journalists.

For example, in Lithuania “Sputnik Lietuva” is mentioned in the report of the State Security Department of Lithuania. Lithuanian politicians talking about “Sputnik” in the context of “Russian propaganda”.

Lithuania tries to restrict the retransmission of Russian television channels. I.e. soon the broadcasting of the “RTR Planeta” channel in Lithuania could be banned. It is part of the process of pushing Russian media out of the Baltic States.

Lithuania is violating international law. The news agency “Sputnik” is persecuted in Lithuania although this media works by adhering to the law and in line with high journalistic standards.

Dec 04, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation message about the Baltic States.

In 2016, Latvia's domain registry shut the website of Sputnik Latvia after receiving a letter of concern from the Latvian Foreign Ministry, which drew attention to Sputnik's coverage of Ukraine and routine denial of Ukraine's territorial integrity. In July 2019, Latvian authorities blocked access to the online portal baltnews.lv, owned by Rossiya Segodnya, citing EU sanctions against Russia. In 2020 Latvia has banned the state-owned Russian television channel RT, saying it is controlled by an individual - Dmitriy Kiselyov, who is under EU sanctions. According to the Electronic Mass Media Council (NEPLP), Latvia's national media watchdog, RT and the network of channels operated by it are under Kiselyov's "effective control" and has attempted to present Latvia as a failed state.

After the coup d'état in Kyiv, the authorities of Crimea and Sevastopol decided to hold a referendum on reunification with Russia

After the coup d’état in Kiev in February 2014, the authorities of Crimea and Sevastopol decided to hold a referendum on reunification with Russia. The voting took place on March 16 of the same year. More than 80% of those eligible to vote took part. 96.7% and 95.6% of the residents of Crimea and Sevastopol, respectively, voted for reunification with the Russian Federation. On March 18, the Russian President signed an agreement on the admission of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol to the Russian Federation, and on March 21 the document was ratified by the Federal Assembly. Despite the convincing results of the referendum, Kyiv refused to recognise Crimea as part of Russia.

Dec 04, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative depicting the 2013-14 protests in Kyiv as a coup and about the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia.

There was no coup in Ukraine. The demonstrations which began in Kyiv in November 2013, called "Maidan", or "Euromaidan", were a result of the Ukrainian people's frustration with former President Yanukovych's last minute U-turn when, after seven years of negotiation, he refused to sign the EU–Ukraine Association Agreement and halted progress towards Ukraine's closer relationship with the EU as a result of Russian pressure.

US ordered Ukrainian Minister of Health to discredit Sputnik V

[Ukrainian Health Minister Maksym Stepanov] was tasked with discrediting the Russian vaccine Sputnik V. Only because [in the US] he was threatened that his daughter would be deported from the US to Ukraine within 24 hours. Stepanov, I already clearly understand this, works exclusively under external control.

Dec 04, 2020
Disproof

Conspiracy with no evidence given.

No evidence is provided to support the claim that the Minister of Health of Ukraine Maksym Stepanov was tasked with discrediting the Sputnik V vaccine by anyone. He is a Ukrainian state official, a member of the Cabinet of Ministers. He has mentioned several times that Ukraine may consider purchasing Sputnik V only when it is approved by the WHO. This can happen only after the third phase of clinical trials will be completed and its results will be published by the WHO.