DISINFO: Russia never interferes in other countries' affairs
SUMMARY
Moscow never interferes in the affairs of its neighbours and other countries and supports existing governments in their efforts to restore stability.
RESPONSE
A pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russia being respectful of international law, and never interfering in other country's affairs. The claim was not counterbalanced or critically challenged in the Article.
Russia has a long record of violating other states' sovereignty and territorial integrity. Since 1991, Russia was involved in several international conflicts, including intervention in neighbouring states, such as Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014. Many international organisations condemned Russian occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, see e.g. the European Parliament's declaration.
It was also Russia that interfered in Ukraine. In 2014 Russia annexed a part of Ukrainian territory - the Crimean peninsula. The so-called referendum on the peninsula was organised in a matter of weeks by a self-proclaimed Crimean leadership lacking democratic legitimacy and installed by armed Russian military personnel following the seizure of public buildings. No international body recognises the so-called referendum, announced on the 27th of February 2014, and held on 16th of March 2014. Read the EU statement on the fifth anniversary of the illegal annexation of Crimea here.
The United Nations General Assembly Resolution No. 68/262, adopted on 27 March 2014 and supported by 100 states, clearly says that Russia's actions in Crimea, as well as the referendum held in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, violate international law. Russian President Vladimir Putin has also admitted the military presence of Russia in Ukraine in 2015.
Moreover, numerous investigations have provided convincing evidence of Russian interference in the Brexit referendum and in elections across Europe and in the US.
See similar cases that Russia has never interfered in the internal affairs of any country and that Russia respects the sovereignty of all states.