DISINFO: Russia is not welcome at Olympics, because the EU is Nazi, Russophobic and anti-Semitic

DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS

DISINFO: Russia is not welcome at Olympics, because the EU is Nazi, Russophobic and anti-Semitic

SUMMARY

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has said that Russian and Belarusian athletes are not welcome at the Paris Olympics while Ukrainians will be supported. It means that Europeans have not learned anything and are unable to undergo de-Nazification. They absorbed these ideas along with the classical traditions of Europe: slavery, contempt for everyone else, anti-Semitism, Russophobia, colonialism and a passionate love of a good life at the expense of those whom they continue to consider their slaves or Untermenschen like Russians. It is all in vain because Europe’s preparation for war will not help it.

RESPONSE

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative accusing the EU of Nazism. This claim was made in the context of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

This is an unsubstantiated claim. The EU is a democratic union that adheres to the principles of human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of minorities. The European Union was set up with the aim of ending the frequent and bloody wars between neighbours, which culminated in the Second World War. The Nazi and fascist ideology and the EU are based on opposite values and principles.

The European Union provides a consistent policy to combat racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance. Article No. 2 of the Treaty on European Union says: ‘The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail.’

Russia and Belarus have been banned from participating in the opening ceremony, but their athletes will be able to attend the Olympics on a neutral basis under the Olympic flag. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) suspended Russia from the 2024 Games last year, but it permitted Russian athletes to take part as neutrals as long as they did not actively support Russia's large-scale aggression against Ukraine.

Read similar disinformation cases claiming that The West is treating Russians like Nazis treated Jews, that Western ignorance of history leads to the resurgence of Nazism in Europe, and that Russophobia is now a criterion for joining the EU.

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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