DISINFO: The US overthrew legitimate government in Ukraine; wants the same for Russia, China and Hungary
SUMMARY
The United States has overthrown the legitimate government in Ukraine and wants to do the same in Russia, China and Hungary. The United States constantly and systematically destabilises legitimate governments by promoting violent colour revolutions.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the colour revolutions that the US and Western countries allegedly finance and promote to overthrow governments or gain a geopolitical advantage. The article’s claims are also consistent with the narrative about the alleged Western-backed coup d’état in Ukraine.
Pro-Kremlin outlets have previously applied the 'colour revolution' narrative to Ukraine, Belarus, Hong Kong, Catalonia and the Arab countries.
This narrative claims that protests, disorders and civil uprisings are never manifestations of popular discontent but are colour revolutions directed and funded by Western intelligence services or other Western actors in order to destabilise targeted foreign states and bring about regime change. In reality, protests in the above-mentioned countries started by spontaneous and often peaceful demonstrations, sparked by events that shook a nation’s popular consciousness.
It is not true that in Ukraine the United States orchestrated and supported the overthrow of Ukraine’s legitimate government. The spontaneous popular protests known as Euromaidan arose within Ukrainian society, uniting citizens of all ages, sexes and social classes. Ukrainians spontaneously united against the actions of President Viktor Yanukovych after his government refused to sign the Association Agreement with the European Union, which had taken seven years to negotiate, due to pressure from Russia. The protesters' demands included constitutional reform, a stronger role for parliament, formation of a government of national unity, an end to corruption, early presidential elections and an end to violence.
Moreover, the claim that the US intends to promote violent regime change in Russia, China and Hungary is unfounded and is not supported by any evidence. Protests in Russia began on 23 January 2021 in support of the arrested opposition leader Alexei Navalny and as a reaction to the investigation of Putin's Palace. In April 2021 thousands of demonstrations took place in many Russian cities in support of Navalny, who has galvanised popular discontent with the long rule of President Vladimir Putin. These protests are not masterminded by the US but are the expression of the genuine discontent of sectors of Russian society.
There is also no evidence of any US-supported colour revolution in China. In Hong Kong, the protests also began spontaneously and peacefully in 2019 and have taken the name of the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement. People took to the streets to demonstrate democratically against this controversial extradition law.
There is likewise no evidence that Hungary is targeted by domestic unrest sponsored by the US. Hungary, a member state of the European Union and member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), is actually strongly targeted by pro-Kremlin disinformation, including anti-US disinformation, as reported by domestic and foreign observers.
Read previous cases claiming that Obama staged a coup d’état in Ukraine allowing Nazis to assume power, that the West is using the “colour revolution” model in China, and that the US and EU coordinate colour revolutions to destabilise Russia.