DISINFO: The United States is interfering in the internal affairs of states friendly to Russia
SUMMARY
The United States is interfering in the internal affairs of states friendly to Russia, in particular, this concerns Belarus.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the US presence in Europe. This is also a recurring disinformation narrative about Belarus and, in general, about protests in post-communist countries: presenting protests, disorders and civil uprisings as “colour revolutions” directed and funded by the US and the West. There is no evidence that the US or other foreign forces are involved in any way in the processes in Belarus. The protests in Belarus erupted to contest the results of the presidential election on the 9th of August, which are considered fraudulent by a large part of Belarusian society. The European Union has also stated that the elections were neither free nor fair. The European Council imposed restrictive measures against 40 individuals identified as responsible for repression and intimidation against peaceful demonstrators, opposition members, and journalists in the wake of the 2020 presidential election in Belarus, as well as for misconduct of the electoral process. See similar cases claiming that the protesters in Belarus are controlled by foreign centres, that the West is helping to destabilise the situation in Belarus before the election, that US agents attempt to overthrow Lukashenka along the Ukrainian scenario, that CIA and Pentagon prepare Belarusian protestors, and that The West is creating a “fire belt” around Russia through protests in Belarus and Kyrgyzstan.