2015 October - Part 8

Journalist Claims that Hungary Can Reclaim Ukrainian Territory through International Court

October 01, 2015 - 21:00 News

Journalist Claims that Hungary Can Reclaim Ukrainian Territory through International Court

Russian and separatist media have popularized an article from Nezavisimaya Gazeta entitled “Kiev Creates Professional Army to Resolve Territorial Disputes.” Its author, Vladimir Gundarov, argues that Hungary and other countries “can get back” present-day Ukrainian territories that once belonged to them by petitioning the International Court of Justice. The article uses a former border dispute between Romania and Ukraine over Snake Island in the Black Sea as an example of…

October 01, 2015 - 19:07 Context

Waging a Proxy War on Russian Journalism

Much has been said since 2014 about Russia’s proxy war in Ukraine, where Russian troops and equipment are often reported and even sometimes captured, but with official Moscow staunchly denying involvement. However, this is not the only proxy war that the Kremlin is — or appears to be — waging; there are other campaigns, some of which are longer and more effective, simply because they are less noticeable. One particular target is the Russian media. “The links of the goddamn chain”…

October 01, 2015 - 18:44 Opinions

Putin TV: Russian Airstrikes Are ‘Sacred’

RT ordinarily hates it when outside countries start attacking the Middle East. Except when those countries include Russia. Russia Today heard about Vladimir Putin’s new airstrikes in Syria. And boy, is the Kremlin-funded television network excited.There are multiple stories on the homepage of RT-America praising Wednesday’s announcement that Russian bombs are now dropping on Syria. One piece even declares that “war on terror is sacred,” in the words of a…

October 01, 2015 - 18:26 Context

‘Cold as Ice’: Canada’s Election, as Told Through Russian Propaganda

Sputnik News, dubbed the “Buzzfeed of propaganda,” has been paying particular attention to the current Canadian federal election. And it is bizarre. The news agency’s headlines paint a bleak, and unfailingly pro-Kremlin, view of the Canadian campaign, employing headlines such as “Cold as Ice: All Three Major Canadian Parties Vow to be ‘Tough on Russia,’” “Meet Canada’s Parliament Candidate Who Had No Idea About Auschwitz,” and “Are Canada’s Elections at…

October 01, 2015 - 14:23 News

Fake: Ukraine Announces New Foreign Policy towards Africa

On September 30, Russian media distorted comments by Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s Ambassador-at-Large, reporting that, as a new policy, Ukraine plans to align more closely with Africa. The false information was carried by Ukraina.ru, Russkaya Vesna, Politnavigator, the Committee of Voters of Donbas, newstes.ru, and others. Kuleba told StopFake, however, that he had made it clear in his comments that he was not announcing a change in Ukraine’s foreign towards Africa.…