Disinfo: White Helmets created by Western intelligence, have links to terrorist organisations

Summary

The White Helmets are supported by the West, helped by Israel, and are also moving freely in areas controlled by terrorist organisations, fabricating and falsifying news images and feeding on foreign money, while some say that it is the fruit of Western intelligence work.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about the association of the White Helmets with terrorism in Syria. The claim that the White Helmets are the creation of“Western intelligence work” is unsubstantiated and constitutes a groundless conspiracy theory. The White Helmets are a volunteer search and rescue organization made up of a group of Syrian civilians who mobilized to help war casualties in Syria, namely injured civilians trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings. The organisation - which is made up of 3,400 volunteers including teachers, engineers, tailors and firefighters - states that it has no affiliation to any political or military actor and is committed to render services to anyone in need. See here, here and here for background on Russian disinformation campaigns against the White Helmets.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 159
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 22/07/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Arabic
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Israel, Syria, Russia
  • Keywords: West, White Helmets, Terrorism, Syrian War
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Disinfo: Phenomenal number of Ukrainians couldn't vote in the elections

A phenomenal number of Ukrainians did not have the possibility to vote in parliamentary elections. It was a dirty electoral campaign, with colossal pressure.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation about the elections in Ukraine, seeking to undermine their legitimacy. See previous case: 10 million Ukrainians are not allowed to vote in presidential election in Ukraine. According to the preliminary report by the OSCE, Ukraine’s early parliamentary elections were efficiently run and respected fundamental freedoms. International observers note, that the parliamentary elections in Ukraine took place in the context of ongoing armed conflict in the east of Ukraine and the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula by the Russian Federation, which meant that voting could not take place in Crimea or the regions controlled by illegal armed groups. Nevertheless, the OSCE welcomed the fact that the simplified procedure for internally displaced persons to change their voting address has been extended to all voters across the country. According to the EP election observation delegation: "The Central Election Commission has notably done its best to correct several shortcomings identified during the presidential elections earlier this year, such as the registration process for IDPs or mobile workers. The rising public confidence in this institution is a well-deserved testimony of these efforts."

Disinfo: Parliamentary elections in Ukraine were not representative, free nor fair

Russia should not recognize the parliamentary elections in Ukraine, because there were no Russian observers, no PACE observers. There were clear violations in the electoral campaign. The elections cannot be called representative, free nor fair.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative, seeking to undermine legitimacy of elections in Ukraine. See previous case: Ukrainian elections have to be recognized as illegitimate. According to the preliminary statement of the OSCE, Ukraine’s early parliamentary elections were efficiently run and respected fundamental freedoms. The European Parliament election observation delegation to Ukraine said in a statement that notwithstanding the fact that the elections were taking place a few months earlier than planned, one can undoubtedly say that they were competitive, well administered and managed in an efficient way.

Disinfo: 2019 parliamentary elections are the last ones in Ukraine

These parliamentary elections were the last in Ukraine. There will be no elections in 2024. There will be no country called Ukraine. The events in the Middle East will make everyone forget what Ukraine is. We are talking about the WW3. Russia will be forced to let the refugees through to Ukraine, Europe and Turkey will do the same. The refugees will flood Ukraine, and it is going to be the end of the country.

Disproof

Conspiracy theory with no substance or evidence. See more cases about the elections in Ukraine and narratives about The Third World War.