DISINFO: Western intelligence may be behind the killing of the White Helmets' founder
SUMMARY
The Russian Foreign Ministry pointed out that a number of British and American media published articles last November stating that Russia was the first to benefit from the death of Le Mesurier, while there were other voices suggesting the possibility that Western intelligence services are behind the killing of the founder of the White Helmets.
The ministry confirmed that Russia was interested in keeping Le Mesurier alive and in good health so that he could reveal the truth about the activities of the White Helmets, but that external parties supervising these activities were not in favour.
RESPONSE
An example of one of many disinformation and propagandistic claims about the White Helmets. Pro-Kremlin media routinely accuse the White Helmets of “working for terrorists” and being the making of Western intelligence services. No evidence is given to support these claims.
The "White Helmets" movement originated in Syria in 2012. The organisation - which is made up of 3,400 volunteers including teachers, engineers, tailors and firefighters - states that it has no affiliation to any political or military actor and is committed to render services to anyone in need. Volunteers save people from the rubble after bombings, despite the danger of dying themselves as a result of repeated airstrikes.
White Helmets activists have documented the use of chemical weapons in Syria, later confirmed by The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Thus, OPCW said it found reasonable grounds to believe that chlorine was used as a weapon in the Douma district of Eastern Ghouta, Syria in April 2018. Because of its activities, the organization has become the target of an extensive Russian disinformation campaign in the past.
After the death of the White Helmets founder, James Le Mesurier, pro-Kremlin disinformation about the White Helmets have reached new levels and now includes claims that Western intelligence services might have got rid of Le Mesurier to prevent him from speaking about White Helmet's alleged links to Western intelligence and to terrorist organizations.
Read previous disinformation claims alleging that France, UK, and the US support terrorists in Syria, that evidence confirms chemical attacks in Syria were falsified by the White Helmets and that the chemical attacks in Syria have been staged and filmed by the media of the Western countries.