DISINFO: Promotion of “aggressive Russian propaganda” is implementation of the freedom of expression
SUMMARY
Poland prohibits Leonid Sviridov from entering the entire territory of Europe for strictly political reasons, breaking the law and abusing the trust of the European partners. “Promotion of propaganda”, even “aggressive” and “Russian”, is not a crime. On the contrary, it is the implementation of the freedom of expression guaranteed by the fundamental documents of the European Community.
The authorities use various mechanisms that may cause a chilling effect on its critics, but the Poles are not forbidden to criticise their government in a direct way. The very fact that the Polish authorities are using the mutual-trust Schengen mechanism in order to prohibit foreigners from entering the EU is a brutal abuse of this trust. It may surprise the patriots from the “United Right” camp, but the EU was not created to guarantee to the Government of the Law and Justice Party that people would speak well about it abroad.
RESPONSE
This message is a part of the Kremlin's widespread narrative about anti-Russian Poland. The pro-Kremlin media regularly accuses the political elites of Poland of Russophobia and the implementation of anti-Russian policies.
On 15 March 2021, the Polish authorities decided to prolong the travel ban for Leonid Sviridov (a Russian journalist working in Poland before 2014). The Polish special services decided to expel Sviridov to Russia in December 2015 because he was suspected of espionage in favour of the Russian special services (his case was reviewed since October 2014).
See other examples of similar messages claiming that Polish media promote the idea that the Russians are not people, but the “agents of the Kremlin”, Poland started another wave of Russophobic political persecution of the Russian journalists and The Polish authoritarian state may brutally attack any of its citizens for his views and opinions.