EN
Back to database
DISINFO: The UN’s JIM on Syria was disbanded due to unprofessionalism 

DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS

Tags:

United Nations OPCW Khan Sheikhoun Chemical weapons/attack Terrorism Syrian War

DISINFO: The UN’s JIM on Syria was disbanded due to unprofessionalism 

SUMMARY

The Security Council had closed the file of the so-called Joint Investigation Mechanism (JIM) in November of 2017 due to the false and unprofessional practices that marred the work of that mechanism as a result of pressures on its team from the United States, Britain and France. One of the JIM reports accused Syria of one of the incidents of using toxic chemicals, the “Khan Sheikhoun” incident, based on narratives and assessments in which technicians and experts of this mechanism used presumptive and uncertain terms.

RESPONSE

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative attacking the independence and integrity of the OPCW, and absolving the Syrian regime of responsibility for chemical attacks, especially the one related to the Khan Sheikhoun chemical attack. The UN-OPCW Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) mandate was subject to extension by the UN Security Council. However, the Mechanism was terminated in late 2017, after the Russian delegation repeatedly blocked UNSC resolutions calling for its extension. The Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) has thus been set up to investigate "cases for which (JIM) has not identified the perpetrators of chemical weapons use in Syria." The OPCW’s Fact-Finding Mission confirmed that people in Khan Shaykhun were exposed to sarin, a chemical weapon, on 4 April 2017. The JIM found Syria’s Government responsible for the attack in Khan Shaykhun. And in September 2017, the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria summarized 33 separate incidents where it had found the use of chemical weapons. On April 10 2018, Russia vetoed a US-drafted UN Security Council resolution that would have created a new inquiry to ascertain responsibility for chemical weapons attacks in Syria. In June, the OPCW members granted it the power to assign blame for chemical attacks. The United Nations Human Rights Council blamed the Syrian government forces for the attack. Read more about chemical attacks in Syria here and here, and other cases claiming that the White Helmets used chemical weapons in Syria in order to accuse the Assad government and that the White Helmets have close links to Al-Qaeda and falsify chemical attacks evidence.

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.

    %s

      Your opinion matters!

      Data Protection Information *

        Subscribe to the Disinfo Review

        Your weekly update on pro-Kremlin disinformation

        Data Protection Information *

        The Disinformation Review is sent through Mailchimp.com. See Mailchimp’s privacy policy and find out more on how EEAS protects your personal data.

        🎵 Playlist