DISINFO: The attack on Robert Fico linked to NATO and Ukraine sponsored terrorism
SUMMARY
The attack on Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico is an episode that is part of the wave of terrorism in Europe favoured by centres connected to the secret services of Ukraine, NATO and the Anglo-Americans. The frightening terrorist attack on the Crocus in Moscow on March 22nd, with 132 deaths and Tajik terrorists arrested as they ran to take refuge in Ukraine, was a strong signal of this terrorist wave. It was predicted that this wave would spread to other European countries.
RESPONSE
Conspiracy theory.
Pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives blaming Ukraine and the West for the attempt to kill Slovakian PM Robert Fico and for the Crocus City Hall terror attack in Moscow.
These baseless disinformation stories are part of a wider campaign by Russian officials and media -including by Vladimir Putin himself- to blame Ukraine, NATO and and other actors for both the attacks.
After accusing the main opposition party of endorsing the attempted killing, false stories about the attack on PM Robert Fico continue to grow in Slovakia. In recent days, unproven claims have been made that the shooter is tied to the Progressive Slovakia party (linking him also to the EU and the LGBTQ+ movements), that he is a former member of the communist state’s intelligence service, or suggested that his violent act was concerted with other people, rather than the violence of a “lone wolf”, as local authorities described him. At the same time, the attacker’s wife was said to be a Ukrainian refugee, even if police denied her alleged Ukrainian origin at a press conference.
Regarding the Crocus attack, the Islamic State has credibly claimed responsibility for the terror attack at Crocus City Hall in Moscow. As ISIS authorship became undeniable (see here for a wider account of evidence), Putin acknowledged late on 25 March 2024 that Islamists had committed the attack. Nonetheless, Russian authorities and pro-Kremlin outlets continue insisting on some degree of Ukrainian and/or Western involvement. Since there is no credible evidence in this regard, pro-Kremlin disinformation shifted to its long-term narrative about the Islamic State as a US/Western creation, of which this disinformation story is a good example. This narrative has been debunked multiple times (see here, here, here and here).
The attempt to portray the US and other countries warnings about an imminent terror attack as something suspicious does not stand scrutiny. The US conveyed a very specific warning to Russia -even pointing to the Crocus City Hall as a likely target- under a US intelligence directive called “duty to warn”, aiming to prevent terror attacks even against countries considered as hostile (see here for more information). Besides, Russia’s ally Iran had also warned Moscow of an imminent ISIS attack based on information obtained from arrested ISIS terrorists in Iran after the Kerman terror attack in January 2024. Nonetheless, the Kremlin not only ignored US alerts but Vladimir Putin denounced them as "provocative", "blackmail" and an "attempt to intimidate, destabilise our country".
Read similar disinformation cases claiming that Moscow has evidence of the connection between the Crocus City terrorists and Ukraine, that Kyiv is behind the attack at the Crocus in Moscow, and that Ukraine, not ISIS masterminded the Crocus attack.