Disinfo: Violent protests in Belarus are a pretext for foreign interference and destabilisation

Summary

There are clear attempts of foreign interference, aiming to cause a division in society and to destabilise the situation [in Belarus]. The Kremlin observed an unprecedented pressure by individual foreign partners on Belarusian authorities. Brussels and Washington started using post-electoral violence and the measures adopted by Minsk to contain these riots as a pretext to present new accusations against the country.

Disproof

This is part of an ongoing Russian disinformation campaign about post-electoral protests in Belarus, portraying demonstrations against president Alexander Lukashenko as a Western-led violent colour revolution. Contrary to the claim, anti-Lukashenko protests have been mostly peaceful, and violence has come from Belarusian police and authorities against demonstrators, including beatings, torture and excessive force. These human rights violations are not a pretext used by Western powers to pressure Minsk, but rather Washington, Brussels and other Western capitals protested them as a reaction to Lukashenko’s abuses. There are also strong evidences pointing that the election was rigged. See other examples of pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives in Belarus, such as claims that the EU reaction to Lukashenko’s victory is an example of Western double standards; that the same lack of democracy and repression is present in EU countries that criticize them in Minsk; that the arrest of Russian mercenaries in Belarus was a Ukrainian provocation, and the Ukrainian secret services may have planned terrorist attacks in Belarusian territory; that the West wants to prepare another Maidan in the country; or that Belarusians, Ukrainians and Russians are one single nation.

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  • Reported in: Issue 208
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 13/08/2020
  • Outlet language(s) Spanish
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: EU, US, Belarus, Russia
  • Keywords: Protest, Alexander Lukashenko, Colour revolutions
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Disinfo: Poland and Lithuania are the main destabilising sources for Belarus and Belarus-Russia relations

Poland and Lithuania are the main sources of subversive activities against Belarus and Belarus-Russia union. The Belarusian crisis was to a large extent created artificially, the links go to Warsaw and Vilnius. Currently, they are attempting to deepen the political crisis in Belarus and involve as many EU countries as possible.

Aug 12, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about colour revolution in Belarus alleging Western attempts to disrupt Belarusian-Russian relations. Mass protests in Belarus erupted against the massive electoral fraud which took place at presidential elections on 9 August 2020. According to the EU, the elections in Belarus were neither free nor fair. Poland and Lithuania, as well as the EU, have expressed support to people protesting in Belarus.

Read earlier disinformation cases alleging that the EU's aim behind the Eastern Partnership programme is to change the political regimes in Belarus and Russia, that Alyaksandr Lukashenka skipped the Eastern Partnership summit in Brussels because the West could organise his killing and that Poland pursues aggressive imperial project Intermarium.

Disinfo: Ukraine and US are behind protests in Belarus

The US and its satellites stand behind the protests in Belarus. All this is played out directly by special forces. There are also various NGOs at work here: the Soros-Jugend and other puppet-masters. There is no doubt that all this is directed from Ukraine.

Aug 12, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin propaganda narratives about the Western attempts to organise a colour revolution in Belarus. There is no evidence that the West is preparing a so-called colour revolution in Belarus. On 3 June, Brussels, Washington and London issued a joint statement calling for free and fair elections in the country, emphasising “that no politically motivated restrictive measures should prevent potential candidates from fulfilling the registration procedure.” “Media freedom and the right of peaceful assembly are essential to legitimate elections,” the diplomatic missions said the same week that a visa facilitation agreement entered into force between Belarus and the EU. It should be noted that the recent presidential elections were considered neither free nor fair by the EU. In the past, the EU and US repeatedly introduced sanctions against Belarusian officials for mass violations of human rights and electoral standards, they have not attempted to stage a colour revolution in Belarus or any other country. See earlier disinformation cases alleging that the Belarusian opposition, civic activists and independent journalists make kill lists for Western security bodies, that the pro-Western Belarusian opposition prepares 'kill lists' and genocide, the US global “Anaconda” strategy is to limit the living space of geopolitical opponents, and that the West's objective is to encircle Russia entirely thanks to the "Anaconda ring" and "Great Turan" doctrines.

Disinfo: Eastern European countries are under the influence of Western special services

The United States gave Slovakia “a tick” for the expulsion of Russian diplomats from the country. Everyone signed up under some kind of plan to put pressure on Russia, Slovakia took part in this process, and the State Department gave it an assessment. This is the general pressure of the United States on small countries. If the countries of Eastern Europe do not carry out this or that action, the United States will give them a bad mark, will suspect of pro-Russian sentiments. And this is the worst thing in Eastern Europe. Eastern European countries are under the influence of the Western special services that give them marks for Russophobic activities. Here is Slovakia fulfilling its standard of Russophobia, which the United States demands of them.

Aug 12, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the US presence in Europe, “lost sovereignty” and Russophobia. Eastern European countries are often presented as “puppet-states” of the United States by the pro-Kremlin media. Slovakia is a sovereign state, which shapes its own foreign and domestic policies. The United States established diplomatic relations with Slovakia in 1993. Read more about Slovakia-US relations.

Slovakia expelled three staff from the Russian embassy in the capital, Bratislava, with local media reporting it is related to the murder of a Georgian man in Berlin last year.