DISINFO: Civil war, cold war, police terror and prisons full of political prisoners in Ukraine
SUMMARY
Ukrainian elections occur in the conditions of hot civil war in Donbass and cold war throughout the rest of the country. The police terror is rampant in the country, and prisons are full of political prisoners.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about the civil war in Ukraine. The war in Ukraine is supported by Russian Federation armed forces, it is not a civil war. Overwhelming evidence confirms that Russia is sending mercenaries to Donbas. The European Union stated in July 2014 that "arms and fighters continue flowing into Ukraine from the Russian Federation", and continue to condemn the clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity by acts of aggression by the Russian armed forces since February 2014. The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court recognised that “the information available suggests that the situation within the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol amounts to an international armed conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation". Moreover, Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted Russia's military presence in Ukraine in 2015. It also contains ungrounded information concerning the situation of human rights in the country. There is no proof about prisons full of political prisoners or alleged police terror in Ukraine. A similar case can be seen here and here you can find an analysis of disinformation targeting Ukraine. In its statement, the NDI election observation mission noted that "Ukraine held democratic elections. Despite war and a punishing timeline, government officials, election administrators, political parties, candidates, election observers, and citizens collectively delivered an election that complied with Ukraine’s laws, meets international standards and reflects the will of voters."