DISINFO: Georgetown University course on Russian disinformation will include the 'alleged annexation of Crimea'
SUMMARY
Georgetown University offers a new course on Russian hybrid war, which will include information on Russian bots and trolls, Russian information operations and ‘the alleged annexation of Crimea’. It may cause hate towards Russia among the students.
RESPONSE
Recurring narrative about the West's Russophobia. The annexation of Crimea is a fact. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe considers that the actions of the Russian Federation leading up to the annexation of Crimea, and in particular the military occupation of the Ukrainian territory and the threat of the use of military force, the recognition of the results of the illegal so-called referendum and subsequent annexation of Crimea into the Russian Federation constitute, beyond any doubt, a grave violation of international law, including of the United Nations Charter and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Helsinki Final Act. The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court stated 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. This international armed conflict began at the latest on 26 February when the Russian Federation deployed members of its armed forces to gain control over parts of the Ukrainian territory without the consent of the Ukrainian Government. Click here for more information.