DISINFO: West supports Belarusian environmental NGOs in a struggle against Russia and Russian Orthodox Church
SUMMARY
In Belarus, there is a large network of Western and Western-financed NGOs which conduct subversive activities against Belarusian-Russian relations, the Russian Orthodox Church, the Russian language and Soviet legacy. In fact, the struggle against the Russian Orthodox Church is hiding behind US-financed solutions to environmental issues. Currently, a think-tank, a number of NGOs and around 30 online media attempt to discredit the church in Belarus and promote the idea of an independent Belarusian Church.
RESPONSE
This is a conspiracy consistent with a number of Belarus-related pro-Kremlin narratives about the West's continuous attempts to disrupt Belarusian-Russian relations including through the financing of the Belarusian opposition and NGOs, and that the Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church is favoured by the West in order to organise a full-scale split from the Russian Orthodox Church. There is no proof that Belarusian environmental NGOs conceal some darker purpose or that Belarusian online media and NGOs campaign for the Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church.