DISINFO: West caused Ukraine coup, Belarus colour revolution
SUMMARY
Why does the West allow itself to interfere in Belarus, with funds, coordination and technology of colour revolutions, after it caused the 2014 coup in Ukraine, and the subsequent division in the country? Why does it allow itself to recruit an opposition that openly works for its interests day and night, and then it is surprised by Russia's defence of its interests, lands and sovereignty?
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the protests in Belarus and Ukraine. This is consistent with the narrative about popular protests around the world which claims that they are incited and funded by Western states, including colour revolutions in post-Soviet states, the “Arab Spring” revolts, Euromaidan in Ukraine, protests in Catalonia and others. It claims that protests, disorders and civil uprisings are never manifestations of popular discontent but are “colour revolutions” directed and funded by the West.
First, Western countries did not organise protests in Belarus. Large-scale protests began in Minsk on August 9 against the results of the presidential election and then spread to other cities. People revolted against election fraud and police violence towards thousands of rally participants.
According to statistical data and independent observers, the official result of the presidential election was heavily doctored. A joint monitoring effort by three NGOs demonstrates the scale of falsification based on election protocols from 1,310 polling stations across Belarus and concludes that the announced result (80% of votes cast for Lukashenka) is mathematically "impossible" (p. 7). An analysis by the Novaya Gazeta newspaper shows that excluding "anomalous" voting districts from the official tally would see Lukashenka's percentage drop to 43%, and Tsikhanouskaya's surge to 45%, in which case a second round would have to be called.
Second, there was no coup d'état in Ukraine. The spontaneous onset of the Euromaidan protests was an organic reaction by numerous segments of the Ukrainian population to former President Yanukovych’s sudden departure from the promised Association Agreement with the European Union in November 2013. See the full debunk of this disinformation claim here. The war in eastern Ukraine is not a West-driven civil conflict but a well-documented act of aggression by Russian armed forces, ongoing since February 2014.
See related examples of disinformation messages alleging that the protests in Belarus are a colour revolution conducted according to Maidan scenario; the EU continues to support a colour revolution in Belarus; the EU provoked a civil war in Ukraine, now it destabilises Belarus; and that the West wants to prepare Maidan in Belarus.