DISINFO: The West puts pressure on Russia's allies and interferes in their internal affairs
SUMMARY
The West puts pressure on the allies of the Russian Federation in the Eurasian Economic Union and the CIS, promising them mountains of gold.
The West methodically and cynically requires them not to take steps contrary to its interests, promising "mountains of gold". Although in reality it turns into only interference in internal affairs.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about belligerent West trying to encircle Russia, separate and destabilise post-Soviet (CIS) countries and isolate Russia.
No evidence is provided to support the claims. Relations between EU and CIS countries are based on mutual consent, bilateral interests, and benefits. For example, the Eastern Partnership (EaP) is a joint policy initiative that aims to deepen and strengthen relations between the European Union (EU) and its Eastern neighbours: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Belarus has suspended its participation as of June 2021. As the EU is working to make relations with Central Asia stronger and deeper, the European Union’s engagement with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan has developed significantly since the countries' independence following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
The EU or the US do not impose any collaboration action or program on the partner countries who are free to choose their international affiliation.
After the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine decided to terminate Ukraine's chairmanship in the CIS and started the process of completely ending its participation in the structures of the CIS. In 2019 Ukraine actually completed its withdrawal from CIS. On 28 February 2022, shortly after it was invaded by Russia, Ukraine applied for membership of the European Union.
After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Moldova was considering whether to continue being a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) amid Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine. Moldova applied for membership in the European Union in March. On April 20, 2023, Moldova confirmed that it is in the process of terminating some agreements signed under the umbrella of the Russia-led Commonwealth of Independent States.
Read other similar cases in our database: West has intensified its attempts to shake the CIS; the West increases pressure on CIS to break old ties; the EU uses CIS to contain Russia by all means: financial, economic, military.