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Analysts: Russia Using Virus Crisis to Sow Discord in West

Zlatica Hoke

   WASHINGTON - Russia is very likely behind a disinformation campaign on
   coronavirus in the Western media, intended to fuel panic and discord
   among allies, experts tell VOA.

   The European Union has accused Moscow of pushing fake news online in
   English, Spanish, Italian, German and French, using "contradictory,
   confusing and malicious reports" to make it harder for the bloc leaders
   to communicate its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

   Reuters news agency reported Wednesday that the European External
   Action Service issued a nine-page internal document March 16 saying
   that "the overarching aim of Kremlin disinformation is to aggravate the
   public health crisis in Western countries '¦ in line with the Kremlin's
   broader strategy of attempting to subvert European societies."

   The document, seen by Reuters, says an EU database has recorded almost
   80 cases of disinformation about coronavirus since January 22, some of
   them claiming that coronavirus was a U.S. biological weapon.

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