DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS
- Outlet: rs.sputniknews.com ( archive, original ) , pravda.rs ( archive, original ) , Večernje novosti ( archive, original ) , IN4S ( archive, original ) , alo.rs ( archive, original ) , Blic ( archive, original ) , informer.rs ( archive, original ) , srbijadanas.com ( archive, original ) , Nezavisne novine ( archive, original ) , Vostok ( archive, original ) , News Front - Serbian ( archive, original ) , Big portal ( archive, original )
- Date of publication: November 08, 2019
- Countries / regions discussed: Kosovo, UK, Syria, Russia
AI translations:
DISINFO: Founder of "White Helmets" was linked to Al Qaeda during his time in Kosovo
SUMMARY
The “White Helmets” were founded by a British spy who, as research shows, had contacts with terrorist organisations during the time he was active in Kosovo. At that time, his team included members of Al Qaeda, among others.
RESPONSE
Conspiracy theory; no evidence given. This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the White Helmets, a humanitarian organisation of volunteer rescue workers also known as the Syria Civil Defense, and their recently deceased founder James Le Mesurier. The White Helmets have documented some of the worst atrocities carried out by the Syrian government and the Russian military, and as a result, Russian and Syrian media have consistently sought to delegitimise them through portrayals as a Western-backed “terrorist organisation". Although the claim states that Le Mesurier's connection to Al Quaeda and/or other terrorist groups was established through "research", no such evidence is provided to substantiate this. This case, as well as the insinuation that the White Helmets were involved in producing fake evidence of chemical weapons attacks in Syria, are a continuation of smear campaigns against civilian rescuers in Syria that have been circulating in pro-Kremlin media for years. For further disinformation cases about the White Helmets, see here. For cases about the war in Syria, see here.