Disinformation narratives
Source:
https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-video-microchip-coronavirus-idUSKBN22R2GS
https://www.aap.com.au/false-bill-gates-depopulate-with-vaccines-news-a-conspiracy-theory-classic/
Wolna Polska
https://wolna-polska.pl/wiadomosci/covid-19-smiertelna-bron-usa-plan-zmniejszenia-populacji-ziemi-i-id2020-2020-03
Stowarzyszenie Prawo do Życia Prawda Facebook group
https://www.facebook.com/PrawoDoZyciaPrawda/posts/3459008547501342
Zdrowie i świadomość Wiedza czyni wolnym Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/402576940080235/permalink/1350543645283555
Wolni i Nieposłuszni Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/420088385968929/permalink/424678335509934/
In fact: There no evidence to substantiate that claim.
There is no new virus, so vaccines can not be effective, nobody has died from Covid-19
In fact: worldwide more than 2 mn people died from Covid-19 as of January 16, 2021, and the novel coronavirus has been established as a scientific fact by scientists around the globe.
2020 saw spreading of conspiracy theories that the 5G network is somehow linked to the outbreak of the coronavirus, and that 5G has technology, and in particular installing 5G masts has an adverse effect on human health and helps spreading COVID-19. These conspiracy theories have been disseminated not only in Europe, including Central Europe, Baltic States (Lithuania) but also in Africa and around the world.
Source:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7506181/
https://www.facebook.com/PrawoDoZyciaPrawda/posts/3446683812067149
In fact: There is no evidence to substantiate that claim.
Belgian Minister of Health is “entitled to an open bar” while the bistros are closed
Source:
13.01.2021 Perma | Fred Emans – Amis restaurateurs et patrons de café, vous… | Facebook
In fact, this is disinformation as proved by AFP
Unemployed persons to receive 100% of their benefits, workers – 70% of their salary. No aid for craftsmen.
Source:
Perma | Sandy Colin | Facebook
In fact, it’s not true as federal and regional aid is provided also to the self-employed, including craftsmen.
Source:
Perma | Au parents ne signée aucun document de… – Youssef El Ahmadi | Facebook
In fact, completely unfounded claim, and as regards vaccination, they can not take place without parental consent in Belgium.
Coronavirus has proven the weakness of West’s military organisation, Russia prevails
Sputnik Belarus, 09 April 2020
In fact: Amid the coronavirus pandemic NATO’s essential work continues and its ability to conduct operations remains intact. Russian Daily Kommersant reports about three confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Russian military and 133 people monitored in mid-April.
geopolitika.news 16.04.2020
Source:
https://www.geopolitika.news/analize/dr-sc-sanja-vujacic-okupacija-europe-u-sjeni-korone/
In fact: The text is a manipulation as it presents the NATO enlargement, and NATO military exercises with the participation of American troops as the US „occupation” of Europe. On the other hand, it plays into the Russian narrative of the alleged aggresive posture of NATO against Russia and baselessly links the whole issue with the coronavirus crisis.
geopolitika.news 16.04.2020
Source:
https://www.geopolitika.news/analize/dr-sc-sanja-vujacic-okupacija-europe-u-sjeni-korone/
In fact: The text is a manipulation as it presents the NATO enlargement, and NATO military exercises with the participation of American troops as the US „occupation” of Europe. On the other hand, it plays into the Russian narrative of the alleged aggresive posture of NATO against Russia and baselessly links the whole issue with the coronavirus crisis.
Pfizer used to fake clinical trials – nobody can trust their vaccines.
Rossiya 24, 29.11.2020
In fact: There are no credible accusations of Pfizer falsifying clinical trial results.
WHO and Microsoft sabotaged the Russian vaccine against coronavirus
Sputnik Spain, 14.08.2020
Source:
https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/who-microsoft-sabotaged-russian-vaccine-sputnik-v-against-coronavirus/
In fact: Contrary to the claim, the World Health Organisation didn’t sabotage the vaccine, but rather initiated talks with Russian authorities about undertaking a review of the vaccine. However, it refused to endorse it right away and expressed some reservations about the procedure followed by Russia, given that the country hasn’t completed large trials to test the vaccine’s safety and efficacy and experts consider that rolling out an inadequately vetted vaccine could endanger people who receive it. On August 2020, the WHO published a landscape of COVID-19 candidate vaccines, which considered the Russian project developed by Gamaleya Research Institute as being in Phase 1 of clinical testing yet.
Big Pharma and foreign countries ploy to smear Russia’s COVID vaccine
TASS – Russian News Agency 11.12.2020
Source:
https://tass.com/politics/1234019
In fact: There is no evidence for such practices, and Kremlin does not provide any proof too.
US imposed sanctions on Russian institutions over Covid-19 vaccine development
Pervyi Kanal, 11.09.2020
In fact: US sanctions have nothing to do with the production of a vaccine against the new strain of coronavirus. According to the document the sanctioned entities are associated with development of biological and chemical weapons in Russia.
Sputnik Polska, 13.06.2020
In fact: NATO is a defence alliance, no factual evidence to substantiate such a claim.
Sputnik Polska, 22.02.2020
The Americans are practicing a nuclear attack on Russia on military drills in Poland
Poland is isolated in Europe in its claims of Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine
Sputnik Poland, 29.12.2020
In fact: All EU and NATO member states share the opinion that Russia continues to implement direct military aggression against Ukraine in Donbas and Crimea.
In the United States, they doubt the “BUK” version of the MH17 crash
RIAFAN, 15.12.2020
In fact, Mike Pompeo – US Secretary of State in his press statement on March 8, 2020 declared:
“The United States welcomes tomorrow’s commencement of the criminal trial in the Netherlands of four individuals indicted for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17… This trial is a critical moment in the search for justice for the families and friends of the 298 individuals who lost their lives on July 17, 2014.”
Source: https://www.state.gov/trial-of-four-suspects-in-mh17-case/
The abovementioned individuals are Igor Vsevolodovich Girkin, Sergey Nikolayevich Dubinskiy, Oleg Yuldashevich Pulatov, and Leonid Volodymyrovych Kharchenko.
Source:
https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/in-the-united-states-they-doubt-the-buk-version-of-the-mh17-crash/
Russian anti-Lithuanian narratives:
Historic revisionism:
The entry of Baltic states into the USSR was consistent with international and state law
Sputnik Armenia (Russian), 19.06.2020
Re-writing the history of Lithuania’s struggle for independence in early 1990-s:
During the bloody intervention of January 1991, Soviet troops acted according to Soviet law to ensure public order.
Sputnik Lithuania, 14.12.2020
Source:
https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/lithuanian-judges-broke-the-law-in-the-case-of-january-13th/
In fact: On 23 August 1939, the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany signed a non-aggression (Molotov-Ribbentrop) pact whose secret protocols divided the territories belonging to Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Romania into Soviet and Nazi spheres of influence. Soviet occupation of the Baltic States lasted for 50 years, and resulted in mass deportations and repressions against local populations. 24 December 1989, the Parliament of the USSR, the Congress of the People’s Deputies, adopted a resolution, acknowledging the annexation of the Baltic states as a violation of the USSRs obligations.
Lithuania will not buy the Russian vaccine due to its anti-Russian position
Baltnews Lithuania 27.11.2020
In fact: The message is part of a pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign in support of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. The Sputnik V vaccine is not yet certified in the EU. The statement that only the Russian vaccine “is a real vaccine” is false. Other vaccines are developed reported are from Pfizer, Moderna and Oxford University
Lithuania will not buy the Russian vaccine due to its anti-Russian position
Baltnews Lithuania 27.11.2020
In fact: The message is part of a pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign in support of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. The Sputnik V vaccine is not yet certified in the EU. The statement that only the Russian vaccine “is a real vaccine” is false. Other vaccines are developed reported are from Pfizer, Moderna and Oxford University
Lithuania will not buy the Russian vaccine due to its anti-Russian position
Baltnews Lithuania 27.11.2020
In fact: The message is part of a pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign in support of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. The Sputnik V vaccine is not yet certified in the EU. The statement that only the Russian vaccine “is a real vaccine” is false. Other vaccines are developed reported are from Pfizer, Moderna and Oxford University
Lithuania does not have its own cybersecurity forces. All cyber activities of defence and offence from the territory of Lithuania are implemented by the US army. Washington always fights by hiding behind other countries.
Sputnik Lithuania, 12.11.2020
Source:
https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/DISINFORMATION-the-us-cyber-forces-are-hiding-behind-lithuania/
In fact: It is not true that Lithuania “does not have its own cybersecurity forces”. Since January 1, 2018, National Cyber Security Centre at the Ministry of National Defence is operating in Vilnius. The purpose of its activities is cybersecurity.
Vesti FM, 13.10.2020
In fact: There is no evidence that the West is depriving Baltic states of their sovereignty or that they are tools against Russia. The Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – are fully-fledged members of the EU and NATO, where they have the same rights as any other member state. They are sovereign, independent, and democratic countries.
Lithuania has transformed into a totalitarian society, where any alternative opinion is rejected
pl.rubaltic.ru, 15 Sept., 2020
In fact: Lithuania is a democratic country, and ranks 28th out of 180 countries in the 2020 World Press Freedom Index.
Poland has lost 130 billion euros from its membership in the EU throughout 16 years
Sputnik Poland, 11.12.2020
In fact: There is no doubt among economists and international research centres that EU membership has been extremely beneficial for Poland in all aspects, in particular, the economy, finances and investments. After its EU accession, Poland started to be perceived as an economic success story.
Polish media promote the idea that the Russians are not people, but the “agents of the Kremlin”
Sputnik Poland, 10 Dec., 2020
In fact: This message is a part of the Kremlin’s widespread narrative about Russophobic Poland. The Kremlin-controlled media regularly accuses the political elites of Poland of Russophobia and the implementation of anti-Russian policies.
For several years, the Russians tried to convince their public that Poles were destroying Soviet cemeteries, and published photos with stained monuments and inscriptions. Any operation to dismantle a Soviet monument was presented in the context of the cemetery and the remains of the Red Army soldiers.
Reference:
RIA Novosti, 10.05.2020; 03.03.2020
https://ria.ru/20200510/1571242740.html
https://ria.ru/20171012/1506706573.html
In fact: the perpetrators often made mistakes when writing in Polish in cemeteries. It was proved that they came from Russian-speaking people, which was indicated by errors. The probability that it was a planned operation, and not some spontaneous acts of Poles, is quite high. The problem also concerned the monuments that were not in the cemeteries, though the Russians tried to combine these two issues. However, cemeteries in Poland are under protection; renovations and investments are constantly being carried out – regardless of the government, whether it is left-wing or right-wing.
Sputnik Poland, 28.08.2019
Polish army under the microscope: outdated equipment and lack of ammunition for training soldiers
Sputnik Poland, 14.05.2020
Poland wishes to annex Lithuanian territory
Opednews.com on 20.08.2020
Source:
https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/poland-using-lublin-triangle-deal-to-annex-lithuanian-territory/
In fact: The 1994 Polish-Lithuanian Friendship Treaty lays down the principle of sovereignty and territorial integrity as a foundation of bilateral ties, and affirms that the two countries “do not have territorial claims against one another, nor will they issue any such claims in the future” (Art. 2(2)).
Violation of freedom of speech in Central and Eastern Europe supervised by the USA
Baltnews, 08 Dec. 2020
In fact: In the “Freedom in the World” 2020 ranking (by Freedom House) Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania were evaluated as free countries. Russia belongs to the group of not free countries.
Roma attacking trucks transporting aid attacked and houses were looted
In fact, those claims were debunked by Croatian authorities.
The Croatian Red Cross refused to provide humanitarian aid to the Serbian community
Source:
Perma | Romana Iljegic – Ljudiii apeliram na Vas !!!! Poslusajte… | Facebook
In fact, as confirmed by AFP, such an incident did not take place.
Daniel Hinst, Populist Conspiracy Narratives and Other Forms of Disinformation in Croatia http://4liberty.eu/review-13-populist-conspiracy-narratives-and-other-forms-of-disinformation-in-croatia/
Russian disinformation narratives alleging Western interference in the post-election conflict in Belarus
NATO is preparing to use force against Belarus
Ria Novosti, 07.12.2020
Source:
https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/nato-is-preparing-to-use-force-against-belarus/
In fact: There is no reason for NATO, a collective defence organisation, to invade Belarus. This is part of a Russian disinformation campaign on post-electoral events in Belarus, merged with recurrent pro-Kremlin narratives portraying NATO as an ever-aggressive organisation.
Poland and Lithuania send Belarusian opposition instructions on how to make explosives
Sputnik Poland, 12.11.2020:
In fact: The claims that Poland and Lithuania are trying to “organise a colour revolution in Belarus” or that they “send instructions to Belarus on how to make explosives” is a conspiracy theory. Lithuania and Poland are neighbours of Belarus and continue to support the Belarusian people. Poland and Lithuania respect the principles of international law and do not intervene in the domestic affairs of other countries.
The Belarusian opposition has long been based in Lithuania, whereas Poland has been making preparations for a Belarusian Maidan for years.
Sputnik Belarus, 29.09.2020
In fact: Poland fully supports the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine and Belarus, it does not have any territorial claims against its neighbours and it rejects any “imperial” ambitions towards other countries. There is no evidence that Poland, Lithuania or any other Western governments including the US are involved in any way in the protests in Belarus.
Refugees receive higher benefits than pensioners
„48 euros per day and per refugee in Bierset … 48 x 30 = 1440 euros … “is the calculation made by the author of this publication, who is indignant” Many pensioners (who receive a pension, Editor’s note ) have a lot less and they’ve worked their whole lives !!! ”
Source:
Perma | William Beckers – 48 euros par jour et par réfugié à… | Facebook
In fact, as proved by AFP, refugees accommodated in reception centers do not receive 48 euros per day.
Source:
Perma | Berna Reynt – ils sont les rois ! Après d’avoir mis le feu… | Facebook
Ces trois migrants n’ont pas obtenu la nationalité belge | Factuel (afp.com)
„In fact, this photo was taken several months before the fires that hit camps for migrants on two Greek islands in mid-September. On the other hand, these three men do not show a Belgian identity card, but a Greek residence permit.” – AFP
Polish Parliament’s ‘alt-right’ group: US troops in Poland will deprive the country of its sovereignty
Source: WinTV
In fact: these are unfounded allegations
Germany wants to colonize Poland and take away its sovereignty
Source:
??Niemcy chcą skolonizować ??Polskę. Nie mam co do tego żadnej wątpliwości. W czasie pandemii Niemcy chcą złamać ??traktat i bezpawnie odebrać nam suwerenność. Szczególnie dziś 11 listopada trzeba przypominać, czym się kończył niemiecki dyktat dla Polski. https://t.co/4MByy0tPZf
— Janusz Kowalski (@JKowalski_posel) November 11, 2020
In fact: this is a part of a recurring, populist disinformation campaign against Germany
Breakdown of the “Czajka” sewage treatment plant in Warsaw “resembles the situation of the Chernobyl catastrophy
Source:
To przypomina mi sytuację katastrofy w Czarnobylu. Ukrywano to dokąd można było. Później się nie dało ukryć, bo Wisła zaczęła płynąć pianą.
— Marek Suski (@mareksuski) August 29, 2019
In fact: it was a pure smear campaign against the opposition mair of Warsaw, Rafał Trzaskowski
President Biden will withdraw troops from Poland? Biden’s victory as the „collapse” of the USA
Source: wRealu24.pl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyC1HOkU21M