DISINFO: OPCW omitted key facts in report on Douma chemical attack
SUMMARY
An internal OPCW email reveals that the organisation doctored its own report on the 2018 chemical attack in Douma, Syria by misrepresenting or omitting key facts. This was done in order to bring the report’s conclusions in line with Western claims that the attack had been perpetrated by the Syrian government.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives attacking the independence and integrity of the OPCW; lending credence to the claim that the 2018 Douma attack was staged; and absolving the Syrian regime of responsibility for chemical attacks in general. The email in question is dated 22 June 2018 and therefore could not have been referring to the final OPCW report on Douma, which was released 1 March 2019. In fact, the final report addresses all the points raised by the employee and addresses some of his/her concerns. See here for a point-by-point disproof by Bellingcat.