DISINFO: European feminists aim at destroying traditional Belarusian values through Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
SUMMARY
Feminism is a Western evil, which came to Belarus through gender equality programmes. There are few strong men left in the West, many were either turned to women or became sexual minorities. Now rich curators and European feminists are looking for Belarus. The female trio consisting of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Maria Kalesnikava, and Veranika Tsepkala diminish males’ dignity, incite provocations, and provoke people’s aggression against the state authorities. They also fight against strong men who defend the country against Western enemies and provocateurs. If feminists get into power in Belarus, traditional family values will be crumbled. The Day of Airborne Forces will be replaced with gay prides. So when special police detain protesters on the streets, they defend the country and traditional values.
RESPONSE
This message is related to the recurring pro-Kremlin propaganda about mean Western actions towards Belarus and the EU's moral decay. It wrongly equates the concepts of feminism and gender equality with homosexuality propaganda and the erosion of family values. The EU advances gender equality between women and men as a fundamental human right. The message is founded on conspiracy about the far-reaching anti-Belarusian plan of European feminists with the use of the female Belarusian political trio which has been challenging Belarusian president Alyaksandr Lukashenka. In reality, the leadership of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Maria Kalesnikava, and Veranika Tsepkala was to a big extent, a spontaneous consequence of the repressive actions Lukashenka applied towards presidential candidates. Tsikhanouskaya is the wife of a popular blogger, Siarhei Tsikhanouski, who was arrested on dubious charges in late May 2020. Maria Kalesnikava led the electoral campaign of Viktar Babaryka, former board chairman at Russian-owned Belgazprombank, who was detained on 18 June 2020 and consequently not registered as a candidate. Veranika Tsepkala headed the election campaign of her husband Valery Tsepkala who left Belarus with their children in late July due to fear of arrest. Read more about the spontaneous political female leadership in Belarus here. On 3 June, Brussels, Washington and London issued a joint statement calling for free and fair elections in the country, emphasising “that no politically motivated restrictive measures should prevent potential candidates from fulfilling the registration procedure.” On 9 June 2020, the spokesman of the European External Action Service (EEAS) called the detention of Siarhei Tsikhanouski arbitrary and urged the Belarus authorities to release him and other activists. On 19 June 2020, the EEAS likewise condemned the detention of another Belarusian presidential candidate Viktar Babaryka and his son Eduard and called for their release. According to the EU, the election night in Belarus was marred with disproportionate and unacceptable state violence against peaceful protesters. The EU urged Belarus to ensure that the Central Electoral Commission published the results reflecting the choice of the Belarusian people. See earlier disinformation cases alleging that the EU does not wish to reduce Schengen visa fees for Belarusian due to low percentage of homosexuals in Belarus, that the Belarusian opposition and Europe brings totalitarian feminism to Belarus to destroy social values, that the IMF conditions loans to Belarus with gender equality and rights of sexual minorities, and the pro-Western Belarusian opposition prepares 'kill lists' and genocide.