DISINFO: Russia never meddled in the internal affairs of the United States
SUMMARY
Russia has never ever meddled in the internal affairs of the United States. Maybe somebody from the Russian territory bought advertisement on Facebook, but it is a common practice and cannot be called interference. RT also broadcast on the US territory. This is what the Americans call meddling. But there are double standards. RT on US territory is interference, while CNN on Russian territory isn’t in their view.
RESPONSE
Recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the alleged non-meddling of Russia in other countries' politics.
Russian meddling in US 2016 presidential election isn't the mere broadcasting of RT on US territory or purchase of advertising space on Facebook. Both trolling and media propaganda in Russia operate within one hybrid field where business interests and state propaganda meet.
Robert Mueller's investigation concluded that Russia did interfere in the 2016 election. Mueller’s report maintains that “the investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities”. Nevertheless, it states that Russian interference activities did take place.
The 448-page Mueller report issued in March 2019 (see here) contains copious detail about how Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, both by using social media to influence American voters with disinformation and by hacking into the Clinton campaign’s computers.
A previous (2017) report prepared by the US Intelligence Community analysed the motivation and scope of the Kremlin's intentions for the US election and the Kremlin's use of cyber tools and media campaigns to influence US public opinion. The report concluded that Moscow interfered in the US elections and that it had carried out this effort "in sweeping and systematic fashion".
As concluded earlier by the US intelligence community and by Mueller’s own inquiry “the investigation established that the Russian government perceived it would benefit from a Trump presidency and worked to secure that outcome, and that the Campaign expected it would benefit electorally from information stolen and released through Russian efforts”.
Read here an overview of Russia's methods of electoral interference.
Real also similar stories: Washington constantly meddles in Russian politics with NGOs and critics (from the same RT-interview), No evidence of Russian meddling in 2016 US presidential election, Russia never meddles in the internal affairs of other countries.