DISINFO: West considers military force as a way to change power in Belarus
DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS
  • Outlet: ritmeurasia.org (archived)*
  • Date of publication: July 30, 2021
  • Article language(s): Russian
  • Reported in: Issue 254
  • Countries / regions discussed: Belarus
Tags:
Hybrid war Alexander Lukashenko KGB War preparation West

DISINFO: West considers military force as a way to change power in Belarus

SUMMARY

The use of military force is considered by certain circles in the West as one of the options for a change of power in Belarus.

The political-forming circles of the West are discussing various options for a change of power in the Republic of Belarus as a necessary condition for achieving their geopolitical interests in the East European region. The use of military force is not excluded, among other things.

At present, Belarus, in the absence of attempts to organise mass riots, continues to be in a state of repelling hybrid aggression of the collective West.

RESPONSE

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the belligerent West claiming that it is plotting against Belarus and its citizens, trying to destabilise and destroy the country. Unfounded statement about the Western plan for a military invasion of Belarus.

This is a disinformation narrative that pro-Kremlin outlets have been repeating over the past year about the West’s subversive activities against Belarus aimed at toppling its unrecognised dictator Alexander Lukashenka. In reality, all these reports have been created with the sole aim of helping Lukashenka stay in power amid people's growing discontent with his policies, especially after he had the results of last year’s presidential elections rigged and proclaimed himself the winner.

Western countries are not unleashing a hybrid war, but reacting to events in Belarus, including oppression against civil society and, for example, the forced landing of Ryanair flight FR4978 in Minsk, on 23 May 2021.

The EU does not recognise the falsified results of the Belarusian Presidential election on 9 August 2020, nor the new mandate claimed by Alexander Lukashenka. On the first anniversary of the 9 August 2020 fraudulent presidential elections in Belarus the EU stated that it "will continue to support a democratic, independent, sovereign, prosperous and stable Belarus. The voices and the will of the people of Belarus will not be silenced."

This decision of the new package of EU sanctions in June 2021 was made in view of the escalation of serious human rights violations in Belarus and the violent repression of civil society, democratic opposition and journalists. Moreover, seven individuals and one entity subject to this new round of restrictive measures were designated in connection to the forced and unlawful landing of flight FR4978. The goal of these sanctions is to put pressure on the Belarusian political leadership to initiate a genuine and inclusive national dialogue with broader society and to avoid further repression.

The West does not seek to destroy or impoverish Belarus. The European Commission has offered a comprehensive plan of economic support to a future democratic Belarus. The plan, of up to €3 billion, reflects the European Union's commitment to supporting the Belarusian people's wishes for a peaceful democratic transition in the country.

Once Belarus embarks on a democratic transition, the EU will activate the €3 billion package, a mix of grants and loans leveraging public and private investments, to help Belarus to stabilise its economy, reform its institutions to make them more democratic and help increase the economy's resilience, growth potential and job creation.

Read similar cases: The EU wants to bring down the Belarusian economy and create conditions for a new coup; The EU wants to take the Belarusians by hunger through the economic war; Russia has neutralised many Western attempts to topple the Belarusian government; European policy of interference in Belarus continues and deepens; The US and Europe are demonising Belarus.

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Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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