The IMF might make the granting of loans conditional upon the full (mandatory) vaccination of the population, the Russian economist Valentin Katasonov suggests, an opinion that has been brought to the fore by several Russian media outlets and taken over in Chisinau. The official communique of the IMF - World Bank meeting does not confirm these assumptions; on the contrary, it reads that vulnerable states must continue to get support.
NEWS: “The IMF might condition the granting of loans on the full (mandatory) vaccination of the population” several media outlets in Russia write, referring to the Russian expert Valentin Katasonov, who makes an analysis of the IMF-WB spring session, which established this year’s priorities.
Among other things, Katasonov argues that the IMF could make the granting of loans to some states conditional upon vaccinating the population. "Given that the IMF, like the World Bank, is ready to dedicate itself to the fight against climate change, many draw attention to changes in approaching cooperation with the Fund's member states. Thus, new requirements may arise: full vaccination of the population; quarantine measures; decarbonization of energy, industry and transport, exclusion from the agricultural circuit of certain territories", says the expert quoted by several Russian media institutions, such as fondsk.ru, russnov.ru and others.
The article has also reached the Republic of Moldova, where it was published on mejdurecie.md.
NARRATIVES: 1. The IMF will impose tougher rules to provide economic support to states; 2. The IMF imposes the vaccination of the population.
CONTEXT/LOCAL ETHOS: In the Republic of Moldova, as in most countries around the world, there are narratives and conspiracy theories about mandatory vaccination, microchipping the population and an alleged global plot to control the population. All these are promoted with the help of social media, the internet and even media outlets.
The conclusion highlighted by the Russian economist and taken over by the press, including in Chisinau, seems to fuel this type of narrative and also criticism against the IMF.
This is also part of the Kremlin’s usual rhetoric against Western institutions.
There are many politicians in the Republic of Moldova, in particular members of the pro-Russia Party of Socialists, who regularly attack the IMF, which they accuse of imposing too harsh conditions for those who want to access loans, and even of the large-scale bank fraud committed in 2014.
PURPOSE: To present the IMF (and, indirectly, other international organizations) as an organization that imposes draconian rules, especially on the poor countries.
WHY THE NARRATIVES ARE FALSE: The analysis published by the Russian press also points at an IMF comunique , released after the meeting, which, however, does not confirm the comments on a potential conditioning of the loans upon vaccinating the population.
Quite the opposite, the communique speaks of the need to keep supporting the poor countries, which, obviously, are faced with many difficulties because they lack the money to vaccinate the population.
“We call on the IMF to explore how to further support vulnerable low-income and middle-income countries in line with its mandate”, the communique reads.
GRAIN OF TRUTH: Leaders of the IMF and the World Bank met in Washington to set current and medium-term priorities.
THE NARRATIVES BENEFIT the Kremlin, by turning the population against international institutions (the IMF).
