DISINFO: Tectonic weapons against Turkey: the earthquake happened as if by order
SUMMARY
It is impossible not to notice that the current cataclysm occurred as if by order. Elections are ahead of Erdogan and this tragedy will not play into his hands. In addition, the events will force the stubborn Turkish leader to take his mind off problems in Europe, and perhaps even push him to agree to the admission of Sweden and Finland to NATO. Particularly attentive people also noticed that in just a few days “because of the threat of terrorist attacks” in Istanbul, the embassies of Canada, the consulates of Germany, Britain and a number of other Western countries were closed, which could indicate the presence of some inside information about upcoming events.
RESPONSE
Wild conspiracy theory. Disinformation claiming that the Earthquake in Turkey was a Western plot to punish Turkey.
There is no evidence to back this claim, in addition, there is no evidence of the existence of seismic weapons.
Conspiracy theories have been a staple of the Russian information warfare arsenal for years. Conspiracy theories about biological, ethnic, nuclear and now about seismic weapons are part of the wider pro-Kremlin disinformation policy.
After devastating earthquakes, conspiracy theories emerge, usually associated with the military forces of the US or the former USSR, the main position of which is the artificial nature of the earthquake associated with the use of tectonic weapons. Similar reports, for example, appeared in connection with the earthquake in Haiti in 2010, and with the Spitak earthquake in 1988. though no evidence is advanced.
A tectonic weapon is a fantasy hypothetical device or system which could trigger earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or other seismic events in specified locations by interfering with the Earth's natural geological processes.
The 1978 Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques is an international treaty ratified by 75 states, that prohibits the use of environmental modification techniques to cause earthquakes and tsunamis, amongst other phenomena.
As for the claim about the closing of some Western countries' consulates: five European countries closed their consulates in Turkey due to fears of terror threats, following protests against the recent public burnings of the Quran in Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark by far-right groups.