The coronavirus pandemic has affected all strands of human activity, including the trajectory of pro-Kremlin disinformation. Revision of World War II history, which had become a focus of pro-Kremlin disinformation, faded into the background as media outlets loyal to the Kremlin turned their focus to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, as the local authorities in Prague removed a statue to Soviet marshal Ivan Konev, history suddenly returned. Pro-Kremlin media outlets claimed in unison that the removal of the statue was illegal, immoral and a crime. It was also a provocation against Russia, orchestrated by the US and, of course, constituted an attempt to rewrite history.
Attacking the local authorities in Prague, the pro-Kremlin disinformation outlets chose to ignore the historical facts, as they have multiple times in the past – namely, that Red Army’s victory did not bring liberty to many of the European nations. Far from it. Marshal Ivan Konev himself had a leading role in crushing the Hungarian uprising in 1956 as well as the building of the Berlin Wall. Regardless, Russia said it would open a criminal case over the removal of the statue, showcasing instrumentalization of history for Russia’s foreign policy.
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Source: EUvsDisinfo
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