Less than two weeks ago, elections were held in Germany. And although the election campaigning is over, the disinformation campaign is still ongoing. We have written about the narratives used about Germany and especially Angela Merkel several times before and during the last week we could notice some echoing of those familiar stories, as well as a couple of new disinformation inventions. For example, Germany was again accused of establishing a fascist regime in Ukraine and again we saw disinformation about the amounts paid to refugees in the country.

Among the newcomers in the disinformation spectra, we noticed false claims that the German secret service will carry out surveillance of the 13% of the German population that voted for the AfD, that Angela Merkel won’t be able to cooperate with the Greens and FDP since they are Eurosceptic, and that representatives of Russia have never spoken to representatives of the AfD (clearly not true).

And although we still can’t say anything about the impact, as shown by the DFRLab, some of the messaging in the countdown to the German elections was amplified by Russian-language bots; and on Russian social media platform VKontakte, 90 percent of the most popular posts concerning the German election supported the AfD.

Pizza gate, Daesh, Nazis and genocide

What are some of the worst things you can think of? The most evil atrocity perpetrated by mankind, the unthinkable? Is it the actions of the self-proclaimed Islamic State? Or the actions by Nazi Germany during WWII? Maybe it is genocide, or paedophilia? Those are all atrocities that any sane person would object to. This week we saw pro-Kremlin disinformation accusing the US and Ukraine of all of them.

The method of accusing your enemy of the worst imaginable without providing any proof is nothing new in the disinformation universe. It is indeed a well-known tactic, and one that has considerable impact but will cost almost nothing. The logic goes that all you have to do is sow some doubt, plant an idea – and once it is out there, it will be popping up in people’s minds. “No smoke without fire.” But this kind of disinformation is just that – all smoke, no fire.

So, when a Russian state controlled TV show brings up the infamous “pizza gate” case – a conspiracy theory that was debunked and proven false about a year ago – and suggest that the theory should in fact be taken seriously in the light of new “revelations” of US politicians in a paedophilia network (again, no evidence of any network), they are creating smoke. Or when Russian state owned TV accuses Ukraine of planning a genocide of the Russian population of the country and establishing a Nazi regime – again, there is no evidence, only a lot of smoke.

Or, when TV Zvezda claims that the Syrian military has found a Ukrainian ISIS camp in Syria and another Russian state TV show claims that Ukraine provided resorts in Crimea to Daesh battalions before Russia annexed the peninsula, again – there is no evidence.

The US was also accused of creating Daesh, leading Daesh, supporting terrorism in Syria and doing everything to stop the elimination of Daesh. No mention of the Global Coalition against Daesh; instead Russia was presented as the only country that fights terrorism.

All smoke. The problem is that we can be sure that the smoke will cloud the minds of some.

Disinformation cases reported in the previous week:

Finland, Estonia and Hungary are pushing Russia's Finno-Ugric peoples to separate from Russia Additional details: Finland, Estonia and Hungary are pushing Russia's Finno-Ugric peoples to political independence and, ideally, to separate from Russia. The countries are influencing cultural and scientific elites of Russia's Finno-Ugric republics, using missionaries' work, and inviting people to study abroad.







Language / Targeted audience: Russian Link to the disinformation: www.kp.ru/daily/26735/3763162/ Disinforming outlet(s): Komsomolskaya Pravda Reported by: East Stratcom Network Disproof note: Recurring disinformation, no evidence given. The described activities are part of cultural and people-to-people cooperation that has nothing to do with separatism. Keywords: Destabilising Russia Countries: Hungary, Russia, Estonia, Finland More Part of Ukraine is a Russian territory with a population that has nothing in common with Ukraine Additional details: A part of Ukraine is a Russian land that has never belonged to Ukraine and the people who live there do not have any connection to Ukraine. Language / Targeted audience: Russian Link to the disinformation: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iSWo6oiJJ8 Disinforming outlet(s): Vremya pokazhet @Pervyi kanal, 1:05:50

Reported by: Pavel Spirin, former journalist Disproof note: Ukraine is recognised in international law as a sovereign nation state, with its own flag, nationality, language etc. Ukrainian citizens are citizens of Ukraine, not Russia. Russia has no right to claim them or to legislate for them.

The territorial sovereignty of Ukraine that includes the Ukrainian jurisdiction over Crimea also, has been recognized by the international community and enshrined in relevant UN resolutions. Keywords: Ukrainian statehood Countries: Russia, Ukraine More The German parties FDP and the Greens have strongly euro-sceptic policies, Merkel won't cooperate with them Additional details: FDP and the Greens have strongly euro-sceptic policies and Merkel will thus continue to cooperate with SPD (albeit in opposition) on creating "the New Europe". Language / Targeted audience: Czech Link to the disinformation: aeronet.cz/news/panika-v-nemecku-a-v-dome-rothschild-mandat-merkelove-po-volbach-je-prilis-slaby-mame-obavy-z-nedobreho-vyvoje-v-nemecku-projekt-nove-evropy-se-zkomplikuje-panika-propukla-i-v-cesku/ Disinforming outlet(s): Aeronet.cz Reported by: European Values Disproof note: The German parties FDP and the Greens do not have Eurosceptic programs.

See: http://www.politico.eu/article/germany-parties-plan-for-eu-in-election-campaign/, https://www.gruene.de/programm-2017/a-bis-z/wir-kaempfen-um-europas-zusammenhalt.html, https://www.fdp.de/thema/europa. Keywords: SPD, Elections, Angela Merkel Countries: Germany More Migrants granted refugee status will be free to move within Schengen Additional details: Migrants granted refugee status will be free to move across and within the Schengen area. Language / Targeted audience: Czech Link to the disinformation: aeronet.cz/news/panika-v-nemecku-a-v-dome-rothschild-mandat-merkelove-po-volbach-je-prilis-slaby-mame-obavy-z-nedobreho-vyvoje-v-nemecku-projekt-nove-evropy-se-zkomplikuje-panika-propukla-i-v-cesku/ Disinforming outlet(s): Aeronet.cz Reported by: European Values Disproof note: Free movement is granted to EU citizens only. According to 2016 EU regulation, asylum seekers shall have their application rejected if they move to another country.

See: https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/under-new-eu-rules-refugees-face-asylum-rejection-if-they-leave-country-of-arrival/ Keywords: EU, Refugees, Migration crisis Countries: EU More The monthly support to a 4 member refugee family in Germany is 5000 euro a month Additional details: The monthly support for a 4 member refugee family in Germany amounts to 5000 euro a month. Language / Targeted audience: Czech Link to the disinformation: aeronet.cz/news/panika-v-nemecku-a-v-dome-rothschild-mandat-merkelove-po-volbach-je-prilis-slaby-mame-obavy-z-nedobreho-vyvoje-v-nemecku-projekt-nove-evropy-se-zkomplikuje-panika-propukla-i-v-cesku/ Disinforming outlet(s): Aeronet.cz Reported by: European Values Disproof note: Recurring disinformation about allowances for refugees in Germany https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/a-syrian-refugee-with-four-wifes-and-23-children-earns-2/. The real cost is difficult to count as the money is distributed by German federal states. The Federal Government pays the states a lump sum of 670 euro per refugee a month (that is 2680 for four). See: http://www.dw.com/en/the-complex-costs-of-integrating-refugees-in-germany/a-18818095 Keywords: Refugees, Migration crisis Countries: Germany More Russia is the only country that fights terrorism Additional details: Russia is now the only country in the world that is fighting the main evil of our time - terrorism. Language / Targeted audience: Russian Link to the disinformation: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFEuJgB6yiA Disinforming outlet(s): Voskresnyi vecher s Vladimirom Solovyovym @Rossia-1, 9:03

Reported by: Pavel Spirin, former journalist Disproof note: Russia is not the only country fighting terrorism. There are for example 73 members in the Global coalition against Daesh. http://theglobalcoalition.org/en/partners/ Keywords: Terrorism Countries: Russia More Ukraine has provided weapons and the use of resorts in Crimea to Daesh battalions Additional details: Battalions of the Islamic state have been resting at resorts provided by the Ukrainian state on the territory of Crimea before Crimea was returned to the homeland. Ukraine was also selling weapons to the Islamic state.





Language / Targeted audience: Russian Link to the disinformation: youtu.be/IFEuJgB6yiA?t=5199 Disinforming outlet(s): Voskresnyi vecher s Vladimirom Solovyovym @Rossia-1, 1:26:40

Reported by: Pavel Spirin, former jornalist Disproof note: No evidence given, recurring disinformation. Further debunk on previous false claims on Ukraine's support to Daesh: https://www.stopfake.org/en/fake-isis-training-camps-in-southern-ukraine/

Crimea did not "return to the homeland", it was illegally annexed by Russia. UNGA Resolution 68/262, which condemned Russia's illegal actions in Ukraine, was supported by 100 United Nations member states. Only 11 states opposed it. https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=47443&Cr=ukraine&Cr1=#.WdOcfWcdiEB Keywords: War in Ukraine, Crimea, Daesh Countries: Ukraine More Germany supported the American project of establishing a fascist regime in Ukraine Additional details: The German leaders and political structures started supporting the US project called Ukraine, deployed a practically fascist regime there, the regime of Bandera, a nationalist regime. Language / Targeted audience: Russian Link to the disinformation: youtu.be/6h-E3O9YTv4?t=415 Disinforming outlet(s): Vremya pokazhet @Pervyi kanal, 6:55

Reported by: Pavel Spirin, former journalist Disproof note: No evidence given, recurring disinformation and conspiracy theory. The US has never had any project for the establishing a "fascist regime" in Ukraine. Keywords: AfD, Stepan Bandera, Migration crisis, Nazi/Fascist Countries: Russia, US, Germany, Syria More Russia never met with the AfD Additional details: Russia never got close to, not talked to representatives of the AfD. Language / Targeted audience: Russian Link to the disinformation: youtu.be/6h-E3O9YTv4?t=455 Disinforming outlet(s): Vremya pokazhet @Pervyi kanal, 7:35

Reported by: Pavel Spirin, former journalist Disproof note: In February 2017, Frauke Petry, the leader of Germany’s far-right party AfD, held talks with Russian officials and politicians during her visit to Moscow, including with Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the Duma lower house, his deputy Pyotr Tolstoy and Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the leader of the pro-Kremlin Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, and others. http://www.dw.com/en/head-of-the-afd-frauke-petry-meets-with-russian-officials-in-moscow/a-37643188

Earlier, in April 2016, Marcus Pretzell, member of the European Parliament from AfD and husband of Frauke Petry, travelled to Crimea annexed by Russia.

https://www.merkur.de/politik/marcus-pretzell-von-afd-liess-sich-krimreise-von-russischer-stiftung-bezahlen-zr-7313209.html

http://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/marcus-pretzell-russische-stiftung-bezahlte-fuer-afd-politiker-krimreise/19288206.html Keywords: AfD Countries: Russia, Germany More In 2014, Maidan in Kyiv started after American diplomats with military ranks conducted some meetings in Ukraine Additional details: It was the US diplomats, who had military ranks, that initiated the Maidan protests in Kyiv. Language / Targeted audience: Russian Link to the disinformation: youtu.be/6h-E3O9YTv4?t=1746 Disinforming outlet(s): Vremya pokazhet @Pervyi kanal, 29:08

Reported by: Pavel Spirin, former journalist Disproof note: Conspiracy theory, no evidence given. The demonstrations which began in Kyiv in November 2013 – called "Maidan", or "Euromaidan" – were not provoked from outside but were a result of the Ukrainian people's frustration with former President Yanukovych's last minute U-turn when, after seven years of negotiation, he refused to sign the EU–Ukraine Association Agreement and halted progress towards Ukraine's closer relationship with the EU as a result of Russian pressure. 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 http://bit.ly/2ftv6iT. Keywords: Secret services, Euromaidan Countries: Russia, Ukraine, US More The law on education demonstrates that Ukraine is a Nazi state Additional details: The Verkhovnaya Rada has demonstrated to the world and Europe that it is an absolutely Nazi state, through the law on education. Language / Targeted audience: Russian Link to the disinformation: youtu.be/kaxBHobDQiM?t=219 Disinforming outlet(s): Vremya pokazhet @Pervyi kanal, 3:40

Reported by: Pavel Spirin, former journalist Disproof note: The new Ukrainian law on education has nothing to do with Nazism. More on background of the law and the controversies it has raised http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/73272.

Ukraine will forward the respective parts of the Law to the Council of Europe for opinion.

http://mfa.gov.ua/en/press-center/news/60121-statement-on-the-law-of-ukraine-on-education Keywords: Nazi/Fascist Countries: Ukraine More Daesh has seized the territory of Syria under the leadership of the US Additional details: Seventy percent of Syria's territory was captured by the Daesh fighters under the US leadership. Russia has driven them away. The US is sponsoring Daesh.



Language / Targeted audience: Russian Link to the disinformation: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaxBHobDQiM Disinforming outlet(s): Vremya pokazhet @Pervyi kanal, 54:04

Reported by: Pavel Spirin, former journalist Disproof note: Conspiracy theory, no evidence given. The US is leading the global coalition to defeat Daesh. http://www.inherentresolve.mil/campaign/

U.S.-backed militias are fighting the Daesh in its former Syrian headquarters of Raqqa. Islamic State has lost much of its territory in Syria this year under separate offensives by the SDF (US-backed militias under the banner of the Syrian Democratic Forces) and the Russia-backed Syrian military. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-raqqa/syrian-militias-aim-to-push-islamic-state-out-of-raqqa-within-a-month-idUSKCN1C01RZ

Background on the fight against Daesh: https://www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-north-africa/eastern-mediterranean/syria/b053-fighting-isis-road-and-beyond-raqqa Keywords: Syrian War, Daesh Countries: Russia, US, Syria More Documents show that Daesh was created by former US President Barack Obama and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton Additional details: Daesh was created by Obama and Clinton. The documents supporting the claim can be found.





Language / Targeted audience: Russian Link to the disinformation: youtu.be/Evv-nNmBrSM?t=513 Disinforming outlet(s): Vremya pokazhet @Pervyi kanal, 8:34

Reported by: Pavel Spirin, former jornalist Disproof note: No evidence given, conspiracy theory. Further debunking: http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/aug/11/donald-trump/donald-trump-pants-fire-claim-obama-founded-isis-c/ Keywords: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Daesh Countries: US More Washington supports terrorists in Syria and therefore is an enemy of Moscow Additional details: For Russia, the US is not an assistant in the fight against terrorism but a bloody enemy if it supports terrorists in Syria.

Language / Targeted audience: Russian Link to the disinformation: youtu.be/Evv-nNmBrSM?t=2671 Disinforming outlet(s): Vremya pokazhet @Pervyi kanal, 44:33

Reported by: Pavel Spirin, former journalist Disproof note: Since September, 2014, the US has been heading the Global coalition fighting Daesh, so it cannot be an “enemy” of Russia in the struggle against terrorism. http://theglobalcoalition.org/en/home/ Keywords: Syrian War, Terrorism, Daesh Countries: Russia, US, Syria More Nazism is now being implemented in Ukraine Additional details: Nazism was a project that was implemented in Germany by the Europeans and there is now a European project being implemented in Ukraine. Three foreign ministers including Germany's, who brought the Nazis to power with their own hands. Today, Russophobia is the basic project of the West. We can take offence at the law on education recently adopted by Ukraine, but the West is supporting the apartheid regime now in two members of the European Union. Language / Targeted audience: Russian Link to the disinformation: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iSWo6oiJJ8 Disinforming outlet(s): Vremya pokazhet @Pervyi kanal, 1:15:54

Reported by: Pavel Spirin, former journalist Disproof note: There is no apartheid or Nazi regime neither in the EU nor in Ukraine. There are no Nazis in the government nor in the parliament of Ukraine. Even the far-right ‘Right Sector’ (often depicted as "fascists" or "Nazis" by pro-Kremlin outlets) gained only 1.8% of the votes, far short of the threshold needed to enter the parliament. Ukraine's electorate clearly voted for unity and moderation, not extremism or Nazism, and the composition of the parliament reflects that http://bit.ly/2dFFEdi

Criticism of Russian government's policy is not "Russophobia". There is in fact a clear record of strong cooperation between the EU and Russia, dating back to 1994, when the two sides negotiated a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. Russia was identified as a strategic partner for the EU, and was the only country with which the EU held summits not once, but twice a year.

In 2010 the EU and Russia launched a Partnership for Modernisation. As stated in the Joint Declaration: "The European Union and Russia, as long-standing strategic partners in a changing multipolar world, are committed to working together to address common challenges with a balanced and result-oriented approach, based on democracy and the rule of law, both at the national and international level" http://bit.ly/1p648gA.

Despite current difficulties in the relationship with Russia, the EU and its Member States have maintained a clear policy of reaching out to Russian society and youth, mainly through the Erasmus+ student exchange programme and other people to people contacts. Keywords: EU, Russophobia, The West, Nazi/Fascist Countries: Europe, Ukraine, EU, Germany More Sweden and Finland are deporting mainly Russian grandparents - it looks like a conspiracy Additional details: Sweden and Finland are deporting mainly Russian grandparents from the countries, it looks like a conspiracy directed against Russians. Families of the migrants from the Middle East and Africa are allowed to get their grandparents to live with them. Language / Targeted audience: Russian Link to the disinformation: svpressa.ru/society/article/182161/ Disinforming outlet(s): Svobodnaya Pressa Reported by: East Stratcom Network Disproof note: No evidence given. There is no conspiracy against Russians in Sweden and Finland, the same law applies to everyone. In order to get a residence permit in Sweden and Finland to move to live with a family member, the same rules apply to every citizen of a non-EU country: In Sweden, the following are counted as family members: wife, husband, cohabiting partner, registered partner and unmarried children under the age of 21. Unmarried children who are 21 years or older can be given a permit in certain cases. The requirement is that they are being supported financially by you or your partner. In Finland, The family members of Finnish citizens and of non-EU (third country) citizens and comparable persons are: spouse, registered partner, cohabiting partner, guardian of a child under 18 years of age, and child. The sphere of family members is laid down by law and does not necessarily correspond to general views on what constitutes a family member. The Swedish and Finnish concept of family is narrower than that of many other countries. https://www.migrationsverket.se/English/Private-individuals/Working-in-Sweden/Permits-for-family-members.html

http://www.migri.fi/moving_to_finland_to_be_with_a_family_member Keywords: Middle East, Africa, Conspiracy Countries: Russia, Finland, Sweden More Ukraine had a plan to "clean up" the population of Crimea, Kharkiv, Donbas and Odessa Additional details: The officials of Ukraine said bluntly that ‘now, we "clean up" Kharkiv, "clean up" Odessa, "clean up" Donbas and get on with Crimea. This plan was announced repeatedly on various levels. They "cleaned up" Kharkiv, "cleaned up" Odessa bloodily and brutally, then went on to Donbas and came across the resistance there! Therefore the peace in Crimea was established because they got stuck in Donbas.



Language / Targeted audience: Russian Link to the disinformation: youtu.be/supnlJCjgYY?t=2434 Disinforming outlet(s): Vremya pokazhet @Pervyi kanal, 40:34

Reported by: Pavel Spirin, former journalist Disproof note: Conspiracy theory, no evidence given. Keywords: Kharkiv, Odessa, War in Ukraine, Donbas, Crimea Countries: Ukraine More Kyiv has developed a plan for a genocide of the population of Donbas Additional details: Nobody in Kiev wants to negotiate peacefully with the pro-Kremlin separatists of Donbas, instead they are going to conduct a genocide in Donetsk and Luhansk.



Language / Targeted audience: Russian Link to the disinformation: youtu.be/supnlJCjgYY?t=3256 Disinforming outlet(s): Vremya pokazhet @Pervyi kanal, 54:16

Reported by: Pavel Spirin, former journalist Disproof note: No evidence given, recurring disinformation. No evidence of genocide has been provided. The word genocide is frequently used in pro-Kremlin disinformation https://euvsdisinfo.eu/disinformation-cases/?text=genocide&disinfo_issue=&disinfo_language%5B%5D=rus&date=, but it seldom corresponds to the actual definition of a genocide http://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/genocide.html Keywords: Genocide, War in Ukraine, Donbas Countries: Ukraine More The US has unofficially declared a war on Russia Additional details: Officially it is not announced. But in fact it's a war, considering Morgan Freeman's statements and the statements made by officials. Language / Targeted audience: Russian Link to the disinformation: youtu.be/vSTnkRWVgns?t=2062 Disinforming outlet(s): Vremya pokazhet @Pervyi kanal, 34:22

Reported by: Pavel Spirin, former journalist Disproof note: Recurring disinformation. The US has not declared a war to Russia. A chain of events has led to the deterioration of Russia's relationship with the United States. A turning point was the year 2014 when Russia illegally annexed Crimea from Ukraine and started to support the separatists in the East of Ukraine. Further debunk: https://www.polygraph.info/a/who-is-guilty-of-destroying-us-russia-realtions-fact-check/28735904.html Keywords: Morgan Freeman, Anti-Russian, Hybrid war, Information war Countries: Russia, US More The US is doing everything to prevent the elimination of Daesh Additional details: The main goal of the US in the Middle East is to prevent the complete elimination of Daesh, and they are going to great lengths to prevent it.

Language / Targeted audience: Russian Link to the disinformation: youtu.be/FcnlOiHhiE4?t=1226 Disinforming outlet(s): Vremya pokazhet @Pervyi kanal, 20:28

Reported by: Pavel Spirin, former jornalist Disproof note: Recurring disinformation that the US is protecting or working together with ISIS/Daesh https://euvsdisinfo.eu/disinformation-cases/?text=Daesh&disinfo_issue=&date=. The US is fighting against Daesh together with the Global Coalition against Daesh http://theglobalcoalition.org/en/home/. The US MoD outlines the latest progress on their website https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/1322158/strikes-continue-in-effort-to-defeat-isis-in-syria-iraq/. Keywords: Daesh Countries: US, Middle East More The US is planning to overthrow Erdogan Additional details: The US consistently prepares to destroy Turkey. The aim is at least to overthrow Erdoğan and maybe even to divide Turkey into several states. Language / Targeted audience: Russian Link to the disinformation: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcnlOiHhiE4 Disinforming outlet(s): Vremya pokazhet @Pervyi kanal, 21:55 Reported by: Pavel Spirin, former journalist Disproof note: Conspiracy theory, no evidence given. Being a NATO member, Turkey is a partner and an ally of the US. Keywords: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Countries: Turkey, US More The requirement to register RT as a foreign agent contradict the American principles of freedom of speech Additional details: All these requirements [the requirement to register RT as a foreign agent] contradict the American principles of freedom of speech.



Language / Targeted audience: Russian Link to the disinformation: www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4wJvqKdRK4 Disinforming outlet(s): Vremya pokazhet @Pervyi kanal

Reported by: Pavel Spirin, former journalist Disproof note: The US doesn’t prohibit RT broadcasting in America, but requires this television company to: submit periodic

disclosures outlining its agreements with the foreign principal, disclose income from and expenditures on behalf the principal, and have

business records of its activities available for inspection by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). In addition, a foreign agent must ensure that all informational materials it distributes are conspicuously labelled and filed with the DOJ. http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/publications/reports/agent-of-influence-should-russia-s-rt-register-as-a-foreign-agent

During the Cold War, representatives of Soviet news outlets (TASS, ‘Pravda’, ‘Izvestia’ and others) were registered agents,” ( http://www.newsweek.com/time-shine-light-putins-american-propaganda-arm-542642 ). Further debunking: http://theins.ru/antifake/73201 Keywords: Russia Today (RT) Countries: US More NATO military instructors who raped local girls were wounded by Ukrainian military forces Additional details: Military from Kiev beat NATO Lithuanian instructors on the occupied territory of Luhansk People's Republic, as these instructors had raped two minor girls from the village of Teploe. The official representative of the Luhansk People's Militia, Lieutenant Colonel Marochko said that the case was investigated by the military prosecutor's office. Soldiers of one of the subunits of the 14th Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed forces are the suspects. Language / Targeted audience: Georgian Link to the disinformation: geworld.ge/ge/%e1%83%a3%e1%83%99%e1%83%a0%e1%83%90%e1%83%98%e1%83%9c%e1%83%98%e1%83%a1-%e1%83%a1%e1%83%90%e1%83%9b%e1%83%ae%e1%83%94%e1%83%93%e1%83%a0%e1%83%9d-%e1%83%ab%e1%83%90%e1%83%9a%e1%83%94%e1%83%91%e1%83%98/ Disinforming outlet(s): Georga and the world Reported by: EEAS Tbilisi Disproof note: As we reported last week the story about two girls raped by Lithuanian NATO instructors was fake. https://euvsdisinfo.eu/the-pro-kremlin-pulp-mill/. As explained in the debunk last week, all of the Lithuanian soldiers are deployed in the Central and Western parts of Ukraine and none is deployed in the south-east part of Ukraine. https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/lithuanian-nato-instructor-raped-two-girls-in-donbas/. Keywords: Lisa case, LPR, NATO Countries: Ukraine, Lithuania More NATO activities in Georgia pose a serious threat of destabilization in the South Caucasus and to the security of the Russian Federation Additional details: NATO’s increasingly active role in the region is dangerous. The Alliance’s military infrastructure is expanding in Georgia, military exercises are held regularly, with their scale increasing every year, and NATO standards for the armed forces and their management are being introduced, which poses a serious threat of destabilization in the South Caucasus and to the security of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of South Ossetia. Language / Targeted audience: Russian Link to the disinformation: www.mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/-/asset_publisher/cKNonkJE02Bw/content/id/2874997 Disinforming outlet(s): Mid.ru Reported by: SOVA News, https://sova.news/2017/09/27/23926/ Disproof note: No evidence given. For a comparison between NATO activities in Georgia and Russian activities in Georgia, see SOVA News timeline https://sova.news/2017/09/27/23926/.

Georgia aspires to join NATO. The country actively contributes to NATO-led operations and cooperates with the Allies and other partner countries in many other areas. Support for Georgia’s reform efforts and its goal of integration in Euro-Atlantic institutions is a priority for NATO-Georgia cooperation. http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_38988.htm Keywords: NATO Countries: Russia, Georgia More Paedophilia common among US politicians, the "Pizza gate" theory should be taken seriously Additional details: Mayors of 11 USA towns are involved in a paedophilia scandal. Paedophilia is raging in the American authorities' high echelons. The American police uncovered a whole paedophilia network of American politicians. Eleven mayors of towns: Texas, Georgia, New-York, Oregon, Ohio, California… are suspected of paedophilia. Now, in the light of new data on the secret life of the mayor-democrats, it is time to take the theory from last year called the Pizza gate much more seriously. Language / Targeted audience: Russian Link to the disinformation: ren.tv/novosti/2017-09-15/vysshiy-eshelon-amerikanskih-vlastey-sotryasaet-pedofilskiy-skandal Disinforming outlet(s): Ren TV Reported by: EEAS Tbilisi Disproof note: The well-known disinformation referred to as Pizza gate was disproven last year as a conspiracy theory http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-38156985. Regardless of accusations against or legal convictions of individual politicians, there is still nothing indicating that there is a network of politicians being involved in paedophilia. Keywords: Conspiracy Countries: Russia, US More EU officials supported the violence in Catalonia Additional details: The referendum for independence held in Catalonia on October 1, 2017, where citizens were shot right at the entrance to polling stations, in the context of a complete silence of EU officials, demonstrates that Article 2 from EU treaty about democracy and human rights is only “chatter”. If the EU bureaucracy keep silent about the violence in Catalonia, it means they support it. Language / Targeted audience: Moldova Link to the disinformation: www.facebook.com/bogdan.tirdea.9 Disinforming outlet(s): Facebook page of Socialist deputy, Bogdan Tirdea Reported by: BDR Associates Disproof note: The European Commission issued a statement on the events in Catalonia where EC states that the vote in Catalonia was not in line with the Spanish constitution, but underlines that "Violence can never be an instrument in politics".

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-17-3626_en.htm Keywords: Catalonia, Referendum Countries: Spain More Explosions in Vinnitsa were organized by Ukrainian soldiers Additional details: The recent explosions in the munitions depot in Vinnitsa were organized by the Ukrainian soldiers themselves to cover up their traces. They have stolen a lot of weapons and try to escape responsibility in the face of the audit which might take place soon. Language / Targeted audience: Russian Link to the disinformation: tvzvezda.ru/news/vstrane_i_mire/content/201710030853-nx7c.htm Disinforming outlet(s): TV Zvezda Reported by: Promote Ukraine NGO Disproof note: TV Zvezda is a regular mouthpiece for pro-Kremlin disinformation https://euvsdisinfo.eu/dependent-media-russias-military-tv-zvezda/. Vladislav Seleznev, a spokesman for the Ukrainian general staff, stated that the military were investigating various possible causes of the fire. The SBU, the Ukrainian security service, said it suspected the fire was an act of sabotage. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/27/fire-ukraine-ammunition-depot-prompts-mass-evacuation/ Keywords: TV Zvezda, Military Countries: Ukraine More Syrian military stormed a camp of Ukrainian ISIS fighters Additional details: The Syrian military found proof (cigarettes, flag and crossword) of Ukrainian nationals fighting for ISIS in Syria when storming a camp belonging to ISIS.

Language / Targeted audience: Russian Link to the disinformation: tvzvezda.ru/news/vstrane_i_mire/content/201709282021-fleh.htm Disinforming outlet(s): TV Zvezda Reported by: Stopfake Disproof note: Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation that Ukraine is somehow involved with or training ISIS fighters. As "proof" this time, Russian Ministry of Defence TV (recurring disinformation outlet https://euvsdisinfo.eu/dependent-media-russias-military-tv-zvezda/) is using a video which appears to be staged, where men dressed as soldiers speaking with a Syrian accent find Ukrainian cigarettes and a Ukrainian flag in what seems to be a rather luxurious building. At the end of the video the men randomly shoot out through the windows, without being shot at back. Further debunking at Stopfake.org https://www.stopfake.org/fejk-sirijskie-voennye-vzyali-shturmom-lager-ukrainskih-boevikov-ig/. Keywords: TV Zvezda, Daesh Countries: Ukraine, Syria More The new Ukrainian law on education is equivalent to a genocide of Russians Additional details: The new Ukrainian law on education is equivalent to a genocide of Russians. Language / Targeted audience: Russian Link to the disinformation: russia.tv/video/show/brand_id/60851/episode_id/1548844/video_id/1680828/ Disinforming outlet(s): 60 minut @Rossiya 1 Reported by: East Stratcom Network Disproof note: There is no genocide of Russians in Ukraine. The word genocide is frequently used in pro-Kremlin disinformation https://euvsdisinfo.eu/disinformation-cases/?text=genocide&disinfo_issue=&disinfo_language%5B%5D=rus&date=, but it seldom corresponds to the actual definition of a genocide http://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/genocide.html Keywords: Genocide Countries: Russia, Ukraine More German secret services will surveil the 13 percent of the German population since they voted for the AfD Additional details: AfD members are under surveillance of the German secret services. Now the services will have to carry out surveillance also of the 13 percent of the German population that voted for AfD. Language / Targeted audience: Czech Link to the disinformation: www.protiproud.cz/politika/3371-ctvrta-rise-se-zakymacela-merkelova-vitezne-prohrala-schulz-dostal-direkt-mezi-oci-jehnatka-z-mokrin-kvileji-cech-v-nemeckem-parlamentu-ndr-zije-a-mysli-podobne-jako-my-co-udela-okamura.htm Disinforming outlet(s): Protiproud.cz Reported by: European Values Disproof note: No evidence given. The German intelligence services have been tasked with the collection and the analysis of information on efforts directed against the free democratic basic order or against the existence and the security of the Federation or one of its States or aimed at unlawfully hampering constitutional bodies of the Federation or one of its States or their members in the performance of their duties or jeopardising foreign interests of the Federal Republic of Germany by the use of violence or the preparation thereof or directed against the idea of international understanding (article 9, para. 2 of the Basic Law (Grundgesetz, GG)), especially against the peaceful coexistence of peoples and intelligence activities carried out on behalf of a foreign power (counter-intelligence).

Moreover, in conformity with section 3 (2) of the BVerfSchG, BfV contributes to counter-sabotage and personnel/physical security. Exercising your democratic right to vote for what you wish is neither of the above. https://www.verfassungsschutz.de/en/about-the-bfv/tasks/what-exactly-are-the-tasks-of-the-domestic-intelligence-services Keywords: AfD, Surveillance, Elections Countries: Germany More