Fact Checks
Wednesday 7 August 2024
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![RT, Russian state broadcaster]()
RT, Russian state broadcaster
“The journalist is seen sitting in a restaurant with his ‘source,’ as the pair discuss in Russian how to hand over secret data on the country’s defense industry in a way that won’t allow the authorities to track the leak.”
Read more...The FSB footage published by RT does not substantiate the espionage charges leveled at Gershkovich, but shows he was engaged in normal journalistic activities. -
![Reno Omokri]()
Reno Omokri
Political activist, author, influencer
"I have organized protests in Nigeria and abroad and can tell you that this current planned protest is not against economic hardship, as the organizers tell you. These people are opportunists. They are seeking to ride in the anger of some Nigerians to achieve their political ambitions.''
Read more...While the organization of the Nigerian protests remains murky, their demands are based on real economic and governing issues. -
![Tarek William Saab]()
Tarek William Saab
Venezuelan attorney general
“There are no antigovernmental protests taking place, but rather pockets of violence with destabilizing purposes that seek to create conditions for foreign intervention by spreading chaos in the national territory.”
Read more...Evidence shows the Venezuelan government rigged the presidential poll, sparking mass protests that the authorities try to suppress and discredit. -
![Brigadier General Moussa Yoro Kante]()
Brigadier General Moussa Yoro Kante
Malian Armed Forces
“[T]here were two dead, ten wounded, two armored personnel carriers and two pickup trucks were disabled. On the other hand, about twenty terrorists were neutralized; vehicles and a large amount of military equipment were destroyed.”
Read more...The actual death toll is reportedly much higher than what the Malian Armed Forces declared. Journalists verified videos showing dozens of bodies of Malian soldiers and the Russian Wagner troops killed in the fight. -
![Aleksandr Ivanov]()
Aleksandr Ivanov
Director of the Officer’s Union for International Security
“Apparently, this is confirmation that Western forces have taken over coordination over the militants.”
Read more...No evidence has surfaced linking the West to attacks against Wagner, although Ukraine has indicated it provided support to Mali separatists battling Russian troops. -
![Nikolai Patrushev]()
Nikolai Patrushev
Putin aide, former Security Council secretary and FSB director
“Russia does not interfere in the internal political life of other states.”
Read more...To project influence, Moscow habitually goes beyond diplomacy, using malicious hybrid strategies and, in some instances, wars of aggression. -
![William Ruto]()
William Ruto
Kenyan president
"I want to call out those who are behind the anarchy in Kenya, those who are behind sponsoring chaos in the Republic of Kenya, shame on them because they are sponsoring violence against our democratic nation. I want to ask the Ford Foundation if that money they are giving out to fund violence, how is it going to benefit them?"
Read more...There is no evidence that the Ford Foundation has been sponsoring protests, but there is ample evidence that it has sponsored human rights groups, journalists and government officials to address Kenyan issues. -
![Russian Defense Ministry]()
Russian Defense Ministry
"At the approach of the Russian fighter jets, the American strategic bombers conducted a U-turn from the state border of the Russian Federation."
Read more...Two U.S. strategic bombers were flying to the Black Sea coast air base in Romania. They did not change course when approached by Russian aircraft over international waters and arrived at their destination on schedule. -
![Vyacheslav Volodin]()
Vyacheslav Volodin
Chairman, Russian State Duma
“Russia has become the fourth world economy and the largest European economy. … [T]he USA have lost their leading position and dropped to second place.”
Read more...In the internationally accepted economic ranking by nominal GDP, the U.S. remains the world’s leading economy, while Russia ranks 11th. Volodin referred to Russia’s ranking by the purchasing power parity, or PPP, not the actual size and strength of the economy. -
![Chin Malin]()
Chin Malin
Secretary of State and spokesman at the Ministry of Justice
“Their sentencing was based on sufficient facts and full legality, and that process was established through a clear investigation by authorities, which led to their conviction.”
Read more...Dozens of rights groups say activists were prosecuted for award-winning environmental work, while authorities denied defendants due process or right to a fair trial. -
![Sergey Lavrov]()
Sergey Lavrov
Russian foreign minister
“[I]n 2021, V.A. Zelensky, in one of his interviews, ordered those who feel connected to the Russian culture to get out [of Ukraine] to Russia for the sake of the future of their children and grandchildren.”
Read more...Russian FM falsified President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's words. Ukrainian leader said that residents of occupied Donbas and Crimea who want to live in Russia should move to Russia, as Donbas and Crimea will never become Russia. Zelenskyy emphasized that he was not forcing anyone to leave. -
![Paul Kagame]()
Paul Kagame
,Rwandan President
''The United States does more mining in Eastern Congo or in Congo than Rwanda can ever do."
Read more...The U.S. does not allow conflict minerals in its territories. The United Nations accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels in exchange for illegally mined Congo minerals.
