DISINFO: The West tries to destabilise the situation in Minsk
SUMMARY
The West tries to destabilise the situation in Minsk. Certain outside forces are making attempts to destabilise the situation in Minsk. Russia was appealing to countries in the West, especially the US and the European Union. You should be aware of those circles which, let’s say, in Poland and Lithuania, are expressing their dissatisfaction with the fact that the situation in Belarus is normalising. Therefore, they are trying to provoke violent actions in order to trigger a corresponding reaction by the (Belarusian) security forces.
RESPONSE
This is part of a Russian disinformation campaign about Belarus based on recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives, portraying the West as aiming to destabilise the situation in Minsk and to provoke military actions on the Belarusian borders. There is no evidence that that West in general, nor Poland and Lithuania in particular, try to destabilise the situation in Belarus. Poland and Lithuania support the independence and territorial integrity of Belarus and they do not have any territorial claims against their neighbours. According to Reuters, Lithuania declared it does not pose a threat to Belarus. “The Belarus crisis is a political one, and any allegations by the Belarus leadership about foreign countries’ interference or about threats they pose are an attempt to shift blame and justify its own actions,” said Lithuanian Defence Minister Raimundas Karoblis. Foreign Minister of Lithuania Linas Linkevicius said Lukashenko’s statement about a military buildup “is a lie” and is meant to create an excuse to call for help from Russia. Lithuania hosted military manoeuvres on Aug. 2-14, which included 1,100 of its own troops and 200 U.S. soldiers and 10 U.S. military helicopters arriving from Poland. Also, Poland refutes accusations about alleged military provocations towards Belarus and attempts to destabilise the neighbouring country. An aide to Poland's president, Krzysztof Szczerski stated that such accusations were unacceptable and that no one in Poland would take advantage of the political turmoil in Belarus. Read similar disinfo cases alleging that the US wishes to destabilise Belarus and provoke a war, Polish ruling elites dream of military intervention, that the EU stance on Belarus is all about geopolitics, not human rights or democracy and that West wants to take advantage of political instability in Belarus.