DISINFO: Warsaw is fuelling anti-Russian attitudes by accusing Moscow of disinformation about floods
SUMMARY
Warsaw is trying to transform Moscow into an enemy using various information arguments. The Polish authorities impose the idea that Russia is their enemy, accusing it of disinformation about the recent floods. The Polish media promote a narrative that Russian propaganda greatly exaggerates the effects of the flood in Poland, forgetting that the Polish President openly expressed hope to receive help from European countries. Meanwhile, before the beginning of the Special Military Operation, the Russian emergency services actively assisted the European countries to fight the consequences of natural disasters.
RESPONSE
This message is a part of the Kremlin’s widespread narrative about an allegedly Russophobic Poland. Pro-Kremlin media regularly accuse Poland of Russophobia and of implementing anti-Russian policies.
This message is made in connection with disinformation spread about the recent flood in Southern Poland. According to the statement of the Polish authorities, “disinformation attributable to Russian and Belarusian services spiked on the internet by around 300% during the first days of severe flooding in Poland”.
The main reason for the poor state of Polish-Russian relations is not “absurd” Polish Russophobia but the Kremlin’s violation of international law and the most violent actions undermining peace and security in Eastern Europe.
The 2020 National Security Strategy of Poland states that the most serious security threat for the country is the neo-imperial policy of the authorities of the Russian Federation, pursued by means of military force (aggression against Georgia, illegal annexation of Crimea and military actions in Eastern Ukraine). These aggressive actions have violated the basic principles of international law and undermined the pillars of the European security system.
See other messages accusing Poland of Russophobia here.