Fake News, Disinformation & Propaganda - Mădălin Necșuțu

Veridica journalists and experts are analyzing and debunking the latest disinformation themes circulated in the public sphere. Disinformation is often embedded in fake news articles and more often than not combines factual, verifiable information with false information. Our team is providing you with the context, the goals and reality behind every piece of disinformation subject to analysis.
FAKE NEWS: The referendums held in occupied Ukraine are legitimate, and Russia’s military strength overpowers the West’s
FAKE NEWS: The referendums held in occupied Ukraine are legitimate, and Russia’s military strength overpowers the West’s

The Russian-held regions in Ukraine have a right to self-determination and the referendums organized by Russia here are as legitimate as the independence of Kosovo, reads a false narrative launched by a Romanian publication, which also reiterates the false claim spread by Russian propaganda regarding Russia’s military superiority over the West.

FAKE NEWS: The secret services will orchestrate protests to justify the EU abandoning Ukraine
FAKE NEWS: The secret services will orchestrate protests to justify the EU abandoning Ukraine

European Union Member States will abandon Ukraine ahead of the cold season lest Russia should suspend its gas deliveries and for fear of a nuclear threat coming from Moscow. To justify their decision, EU countries will play host to a number of protests with the help of the secret services.

DISINFORMATION: Russia is not to blame for the energy and natural gas price surge
DISINFORMATION: Russia is not to blame for the energy and natural gas price surge

Russia is not to blame for the global rise in energy prices, it is the fault of an increasingly greedy Europe that has created “energy bubbles”. This false narrative, promoted in an online publication in Romania, repeats Russian propaganda and ignores Moscow's actions that actually led to the current situation.

DISINFORMATION: Romania and Europe will freeze next winter
DISINFORMATION: Romania and Europe will freeze next winter

Romania, just like the other European countries, will suffer terribly because of the gas price and Russia's decision to partially halt gas supplies to Europe, but this is only the fault of the European leaders, who punished Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine. The false narrative ignores the fact that Russia needs the Europeans’ money, and the latter have taken steps to avoid a major energy crisis.

DISINFORMATION: Most Romanians want their country to leave NATO and the EU
DISINFORMATION: Most Romanians want their country to leave NATO and the EU

Most Romanian nationals want their country to leave NATO and the EU and there is no party that can politically capitalize on this move, according to a false narrative promoted by Gold FM, a radio station previously linked to promoting disinformation and fake news. The narrative is contradicted by surveys.

FAKE NEWS: The world occult is planning to microchip children
FAKE NEWS: The world occult is planning to microchip children

The World Economic Forum plans to implant microchips to control children under the pretext of solving medical problems, according to a false narrative that also appeared in Romania. The narrative is typical of older conspiracy theories.

FAKE NEWS: A basketball player in Romania died due to vaccination against COVID-19
FAKE NEWS: A basketball player in Romania died due to vaccination against COVID-19

Vaccination against COVID-19 is the cause of death of an 18-year-old basketball player from the National Women's Basketball League of Romania, according to an online publication that has promoted numerous false narratives about the coronavirus. The article was published before the cause of death was established and it was not known whether the young woman had been vaccinated or not.

FAKE NEWS: Zelensky makes laws to extend the war with Russia for another 50 years
FAKE NEWS: Zelensky makes laws to extend the war with Russia for another 50 years

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is preparing a law that will extend the war with Russia for another 50 years, according to a false narrative appearing in Bucharest. It was published by Sorin Roșca Stănescu, a former collaborator of the communist political police and a criminal convict who has spread lots of disinformation in the public space.

DISINFORMATION: The Romania – US strategic partnership brings no advantages
DISINFORMATION: The Romania – US strategic partnership brings no advantages

Romania's strategic partnership with the US has not produced any tangible results or advantages for Romania, it has only turned the country into an importer of American weapons.

FAKE NEWS: Romania will be invaded by Africans and Asians coming from Ukraine
FAKE NEWS: Romania will be invaded by Africans and Asians coming from Ukraine

Romania will receive lots of African and Asians fleeing the Russian invasion in Ukraine, and Romanian authorities keep their nationality secret.

DISINFORMATION: Whistleblowers are “snitches”
DISINFORMATION: Whistleblowers are “snitches”

Whistleblowers are “snitches”, much like the former informers of the Securitate in the communist period, according to a false narrative promoted in Bucharest by an actual ex-informer, Sorin Roșca Stănescu. The narrative has been circulated in the context of the adoption of a whistleblower law by the Chamber of Deputies, robbing the former of whatever protection they were offered under EU law.

FAKE NEWS: The US is conducting dangerous nuclear experiments in Romania
FAKE NEWS: The US is conducting dangerous nuclear experiments in Romania

The United States will test small modular reactors (SMR) in Romania, which could cause environmental problems and pose a major risk of nuclear accident, according to a narrative published in the Bucharest press.

DISINFORMATION: The WHO will use data from Romania’s population census in an abusive manner
DISINFORMATION: The WHO will use data from Romania’s population census in an abusive manner

Romanians' data on health, birth and mortality could reach the World Health Organization (WHO), which will use them for obscure purposes, according to a false narrative promoted in Romania by the controversial Josefina Pascal. The narrative takes elements from the conspiracy theory of the “Great Reset”.

DISINFORMATION: The United States triggered the war in Ukraine for financial profit
DISINFORMATION: The United States triggered the war in Ukraine for financial profit

The United States are responsible for triggering the war in Ukraine, and continue to fuel this conflict for its own economic benefit, but also with a view to turning Europe and some countries in Asia into its economic satellites, according to a false narrative published in Bucharest. The disinformation reiterates Moscow’s propaganda themes that try to justify Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, holding the West accountable for this conflict.

FAKE NEWS: Dodon was detained at the order of the Romanian secret services
FAKE NEWS: Dodon was detained at the order of the Romanian secret services

The former pro-Russian President of the Republic of Moldova and de facto leader of the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM), Igor Dodon, has been detained with the involvement of Romania’s special services, according to a false narrative released in Bucharest.

DISINFORMATION: The Western media are lying about the war in Ukraine
DISINFORMATION: The Western media are lying about the war in Ukraine

The Western media are lying, and the horrors committed by Russians in Ukraine are not real. Arms manufacturers want a New World Order, and are paying the western media for pro-Ukrainian propaganda, according to false narratives published in Bucharest.

DISINFORMATION: The West is fighting Russia using Ukraine as proxy
DISINFORMATION: The West is fighting Russia using Ukraine as proxy

Western countries are waging a war by proxy in Ukraine against Russia, and seek to destroy this country, although the armed conflict is affecting the West more than it does Russia.

DISINFORMATION: Russia will be forced to resort to nuclear weapons
DISINFORMATION: Russia will be forced to resort to nuclear weapons

Putin has announced the start of World War III and will use nuclear weapons because, due to the West’s involvement, its forces cannot win the war. The narrative is promoted by Sorin Roșca Stănescu, who was given a criminal sentence and who is known for his opinions that very much resemble Russian propaganda. The Kremlin has long promoted the possible start of nuclear warfare, in order to determine the West to withdraw its support for Ukraine.

DISINFORMATION: Romanian troops, alongside Poland, Ukraine and Moldova, are preparing to invade Transnistria
DISINFORMATION: Romanian troops, alongside Poland, Ukraine and Moldova, are preparing to invade Transnistria

Romania, Poland, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova will jointly attack the separatist region of Transnistria, according to disinformation narratives carried by the Romania media. The disinformation was published in Romania in a version that contains a number of false information, which is a typical example of Russian propaganda.

FAKE NEWS: Ukraine and the US have tried to pull Romania into the war with Russia
FAKE NEWS: Ukraine and the US have tried to pull Romania into the war with Russia

Ukraine's military intelligence service, along with the United States, has tried to trick Romania into sending special forces to Kherson, near Crimea, to be attacked by the Russians. The story was launched in Bucharest.

DISINFORMATION: The EU pursues imperialist policies, and the states on its periphery, like Romania, are exploited by the strong ones, from the center.
DISINFORMATION: The EU pursues imperialist policies, and the states on its periphery, like Romania, are exploited by the strong ones, from the center.

The European Union is becoming an empire in which peripheral countries are being used for the interests of the strongest Member States. This false narrative has been promoted by Adrian Severin, a former politician who served time in prison for corruption.

DISINFORMATION: Zelensky conditions the right of the Romanian community in Ukraine on Bucharest’s help
DISINFORMATION: Zelensky conditions the right of the Romanian community in Ukraine on Bucharest’s help

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky makes the protection of the rights of the Romanian minority in Ukraine conditional on the aid that Romania should provide to the Kyiv authorities in this war.

DISINFORMATION: NATO is fighting Russia to the last Ukrainian
DISINFORMATION: NATO is fighting Russia to the last Ukrainian

NATO / US are forcing Ukraine to fight against Russia for the latter to be defeated and Vladimir Putin overthrown. The narrative falls into the category of Russian propaganda that seeks to shift responsibility for the war from the aggressor to the victim (Ukraine) and its supporters (NATO). In Romania, the narrative is promoted by Ion Cristoiu, an active promoter of pro-Russia disinformation in the public space.

DISINFORMATION: The mines launched by Ukraine could blow up the Black Sea, causing a cataclysm in Europe
DISINFORMATION: The mines launched by Ukraine could blow up the Black Sea, causing a cataclysm in Europe

The mines Ukraine has planted in the Black Sea could set off the hydrogen sulfide deposits in the sea and thus cause a cataclysm in Europe. The false narrative was promoted in Romania by Sorin Roșca Stănescu on Cozmin Gușă’s radio show. Both have previously fostered disinformation and fake news and have aligned themselves to Russia’s positions.

FAKE NEWS: Ukrainian forces have downed a Romanian fighter jet and a helicopter in Dobruja
FAKE NEWS: Ukrainian forces have downed a Romanian fighter jet and a helicopter in Dobruja

The Ukrainian army has shot down a fighter jet and a helicopter of the Romanian Armed Forces in Dobruja, after mistaking them for aircraft of the Russian army. This fake piece of news is promoted by publications and public figures (of whom some are associated with the far right) that over the years have been spreading disinformation, fake news and narratives promoted by Russia.

PRO-RUSSIA PROPAGANDA: Romania needs to proclaim its neutrality
PRO-RUSSIA PROPAGANDA: Romania needs to proclaim its neutrality

Romania needs to proclaim its neutrality with respect to the conflict in Ukraine, the controversial former minister of foreign affairs and convicted criminal, Adrian Severin, has said. In a letter addressed to Romanian authorities, Severin, who in recent years has been promoting sovereigntist and anti-Western theses similar to those appearing in narratives spread by Russia, is also reiterating some of Russia’s war propaganda themes.

DISINFORMATION: The war in Ukraine, a pretext to denigrate Russia, to use censorship, to frighten the population in Romania and Europe and make arms sellers rich
DISINFORMATION: The war in Ukraine, a pretext to denigrate Russia, to use censorship, to frighten the population in Romania and Europe and make arms sellers rich

The public in Romania and Europe is inoculated with the fear of war so that Russia can be denigrated, the Russian press censored and arms sellers made rich. These false narratives are promoted by the controversial journalist Ion Cristoiu, who also says that the same “techniques” were used to terrorize the population during the pandemic.

DISINFORMATION: The USA doesn’t consider the deployment of Russian troops to the separatist republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in Donbas an invasion of Ukraine
DISINFORMATION: The USA doesn’t consider the deployment of Russian troops to the separatist republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in Donbas an invasion of Ukraine

The United States does not consider Russia is invading Ukraine by sending troops to the separatist republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, since it didn’t adopt harsher sanctions. This false narrative is promoted by Sorin Roșca Stănescu, a journalist known for being involved in criminal investigations, and whose articles regularly reference narratives similar to those publicized by Russian propaganda.

DISINFORMATION: The Western media misleads public opinion regarding the crisis in Ukraine, which in fact is one its diversions
DISINFORMATION: The Western media misleads public opinion regarding the crisis in Ukraine, which in fact is one its diversions

The Western media misleads public opinion regarding the crisis in Ukraine, which in fact is one its diversions. These false narratives are promoted by one of the most controversial Romanian journalists, Ion Cristoiu, and amplified by the Kremlin’s mouthpiece, Sputnik.

DISINFORMATION: Romania buys American weapons, without any benefit, instead of investing in education
DISINFORMATION: Romania buys American weapons, without any benefit, instead of investing in education

Romania buys weapons from the Americans instead of putting money into education and has become a major investor in the United States without receiving anything in return, according to narratives promoted by the Kremlin mouthpiece, Sputnik. The narratives start from a text by journalist Patrick André de Hillerin.

DISINFORMATION: Romania will be partitioned in case of a Russian invasion in Ukraine
DISINFORMATION: Romania will be partitioned in case of a Russian invasion in Ukraine

Romania will be partitioned by its neighbors if it decides to fight alongside NATO in a war against Russia. This false narrative was launched on the Romanian media market with a view to eroding public confidence in NATO, and to demonstrate that Russia is not the aggressor in the current crisis in Ukraine.

FAKE NEWS: NATO is sending troops to Eastern Europe, although no member state is under threat
FAKE NEWS: NATO is sending troops to Eastern Europe, although no member state is under threat

NATO is threatening Russia and is rallying a sizable force close to its borders, the Kremlin-linked media claims. In fact, NATO is merely consolidating its eastern flank, in response to Russia’s threats, whereas the troops the Alliance has mobilized represent a fraction of the over 100 thousand troops Moscow has massed.

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