DISINFO: The Navalny case is part of a psychological warfare offensive carried out by the Western élite
SUMMARY
Western public opinion has a very positive image of Russia and of Russia’s political and cultural model. Western élites, however, feel threatened by this positive image of Russia in Western countries. In order to sabotage this image, a psychological warfare offensive against Russia – including false flag operations – is conducted by the Western élite and media. Accusations against Russia for the alleged poisoning of Aleksey Navalny are part of this psychological warfare offensive.
RESPONSE
Conspiracy theory. No evidence is provided to support the article’s claims. This message is consistent with pro-Kremlin propaganda narratives claiming that the Navalny case is unfounded and is being exploited by the West to pursue its own interests and to conduct anti-Russian policies. For example, two such narratives are that the West has an interest in the death of Navalny to launch a new wave of sanctions against Russia and that the West will falsely accuse Russia of poisoning Navalny, as with Skripal and Litvinenko. The article’s message is also consistent with the broader pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative on anti-Russian policy in Europe, portraying Western governments and institutions as Russophobic and trying to harm Russia. There is no evidence that Western governments and media are conducting a “psychological warfare offensive” against Russia, nor that the Navalny case is being exploited, or was orchestrated, by the West in order to tarnish Russia’s image as part of this alleged psychological warfare effort. Western governments, NATO and the European Union have condemned the poisoning of Alexei Navalny with a Novichok-type nerve agent and have demanded answers from the Kremlin. The activist fell ill on the 20th of August on a flight from Siberia to Moscow. Initially hospitalized in Omsk, he was transferred to the Charité hospital in Berlin at the request of his family. Clinical findings at the Charité hospital indicated that Navalny was poisoned with a substance from the group of cholinesterase inhibitors. Subsequent toxicological tests revealed the presence of a Novichok-type nerve agent in Navalny's blood. Pro-Kremlin disinformation outlets frequently present a variety of mutually exclusive versions of what happened to Alexei Navalny. Similar techniques were used to sow doubt about the poisoning of Sergei Skripal with the nerve agent Novichok by GRU agents. See similar cases claiming that Navalny case is a special operation used to put pressure on Putin and that situation with Navalny is a massive disinformation campaign of Western countries.