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Disinfo: The Belarusian opposition is trying to sabotage the 2nd European Games

Summary

The Belarusian opposition does its best to sabotage the 2nd European Games, and is already organizing provocations. Its representatives are implicated in the illegal sale of tickets and have even turned to the Russian activist group Pussy Riot who came to support them. The Belarusian opposition will bring a bunch of people, armed to the teeth, in order to humiliate Belarus in the eyes of foreigners.

Another strategy to spoil the 2nd European Games is to deflect public attention towards the EuroGames 2019 for gays and lesbians in Madrid. This event is one of the most important for the Belarusian opposition, just as May 17th when the UK embassy flies LGBT flags. The Belarusian opposition began selling tickets for the EuroGames and promises to issue citizens with visas for it free of charge, with the aim of taking Belarusians away from the country’s main event.

Disproof

Conspiracy theory consistent with recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the Belarusian opposition.

A number of Belarusian media outlets including the largest internet portal TUT.BY mentioned the difference between the European Games, the EuroGames, and the European Championships. The EuroGames is an European multi sport event governed by the European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation. The 2019 EuroGames will be taking place in Rome, Italy. The Belarusian opposition has not promoted the 2019 EuroGames through the sale of tickets or by other means, nor has it promised free visas as alleged.

The UK embassy in Minsk showed support for the Belarusian LGBT community by flying a rainbow flag  for International Day Against Homophobia.

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  • Reported in: Issue 156
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 26/06/2019
  • Language/target audience: Belarus
  • Country: Belarus
  • Keywords: Provocation
  • Outlet: Berestje-News
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UK embassy may finance a campaign against a former Belarusian Minister of Interior

The recent resignation of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Belarus, Ihar Shunevich, became a real celebration for the Belarusian opposition. Shunevich was an opponent of gays, lesbians, and transvestites, and an advocate of family values. He irritated Belarusian patriots and became a personal opponent for Belarusian human rights defender [Valiancin Stefanovich] who was advocating for gay traditions of those countries where such traditions have turned into madness.

He also negatively reacted to waiving LGBT flag by UK embassy on 17 May and must have found himself blacklisted by the UK ambassador to Belarus Fiona Gibb.

Despite Shunevich’s resignation, Belarusian opposition may continue the hunt against him and attempts to prosecute Shunevich. The UK embassy, and personally Fiona Gibb, may finance a harassment campaign by the Belarusian opposition. Hence Shunevich must be given immunity from prosecution as this will guarantee the integrity of our family values.

 

June 30, 2019
Disproof

This message is consistent with recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about the morally corrupt West and its aggressive actions towards Belarus and Belarusian society. It is aimed to discredit Belarusian democratic opposition by equating protection of LGBT rights by human rights defenders with the alleged promotion of anti-family values. There is no proof that Belarusian opposition staged a harassment campaign against Ihar Shunevich and no indicators whatsoever that he can really be prosecuted for his statements.

After the Belarusian Interior Ministry slammed the UK embassy in Minsk for flying a rainbow flag on the International Day Against Homophobia in 2018, UK Ambassador Fiona Gibb posted a video stating, "This embassy is once again flying the rainbow flag as we did in 2015, 2017 and 2018. We do so not to promote LGBT, but to promote equal rights for this community. LGBT people are not asking for special rights, but simply to enjoy the same respect, dignity and rights as others. As human rights are universal and should apply equally to all people, my government is committed to non-discrimination on any grounds, including sexual orientation and gender identity."

Europe supported Ukraine as an anti-Russian project and for this Ukrainians paid a colossal price

Europe supported Ukraine as an anti-Russian project and for this the Ukrainian nation paid a colossal price. The price was Crimea, civil war in Donbas, tens of thousands of dead, a destroyed economy. And today the price is also the dismantlement of Poroshenko’s regime.

Ukraine as a political nation has a very bleak outlook, and even the Europeans – those who are paying the money – are now thinking whether it was worth it.

June 29, 2019
Disproof

This is a disinformation message that combines several recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about abandoned and failing Ukraine, Ukrainian statehood, the annexation of Crimea, and the war in eastern Ukraine.

In fact, the Ukrainian economy has been growing.

Ukraine failed as a political nation

The Ukrainian political nation in its present composition has absolutely failed and is ineffective. The question is only whether the intelligent part of Europe now really understands this and will make appropriate conclusions.

June 29, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about failing and abandoned Ukraine.

This claim appeared after the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe voted to reinstate Russia's voting rights. One of the reasons for the affirmative vote was to enable Russian citizens to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. However, the vote also drew international criticism, including from Russian civil society.

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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.