On April 21, 2018, Georgian Public Broadcaster’s 42nd Parallel TV program aired a story by the channel’s political analyst, Shota Tkhelidze, providing analysis of recent developments in Syria. Tkhelidze claims that the U.S. shelling of Syria is a continuation of an aggressive anti-Russian campaign unleashed following Skripal poisoning. Speaking about Skripal and Syria attack, Tkhelidze noted that the West makes important international decisions without evidence that poses a threat to “the world order moving towards a multipolar system.” Irma Inashvili, leader of the Alliance of Patriots, echoes the same message saying that there is no evidence of either Novichok nerve agent or Syria chemical attack.
GPB’s 42nd Parallel and Irma Inashvili are voicing the Kremlin’s messages on Skripal poisoning and air attacks on Syria in response to the suspected use of chemical weapon in the country. Similarly, pro-Kremlin media outlets and Russian politicians claim that the West has no evidence of either Russian trace in Skripal poisoning case or using a chemical weapon in Douma. They also claim that sanctions imposed on Russia in response to Skripal poisoning aim at unleashing anti-Russian campaign and Russophobia.
| GPB 42nd Parallel TV program |
Irma Inashvili, Alliance of Patriots | Identical messages voiced by the Kremlin and pro-Kremlin media |
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| With military sanctions against Syria, Trump tries to prove that “a cascade of negative developments” in the United States is a conspiracy of liberal elite against Trump. In particular: a) FBI’s raid in the home of Trump’s personal lawyer; b) scandals related to porn stars; c) Paul Ryan’s resignation. | With Syria attack, Trump tries to divert attention from internal problems.
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The West had no evidence of Skripal poisoning and using chemical weapon in Syria. The West continues making decisions without evidence. |
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1. The West has no evidence against Russia in Skripal poisoning case.
2. The West has no evidence that Assad used chemical weapon.
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With Syria attack, the West continues an aggressive anti-Russian campaign launched after Skripal poisoning. |
The Skripal poisoning issue is used for anti-Russian campaign.
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Real Facts
- According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 500 people were poisoned as a result of the offensive carried out by the Syrian Army in Douma, Syria, on April 7. More than 40 people were killed in the attack, according to Syrian opposition activists, rescuers, and doctors.
- According to the Syrian volunteer rescue group White Helmets and the Syrian-American Medical Association, as of 19:45, more than 500 patients, predominantly women, and children, had been taken to hospitals with symptoms of chemical agent poisoning.
- On April 14, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France carried out airstrikes on three objects, which, according to them, were connected to the chemical weapons program of the Government of Syria.
- On March 4, 2018, former Russian military intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned in Salisbury, England. According to official UK sources, they were poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent produced in the Soviet Union in the 1980s. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said that Russia used Novichok to poison Sergei and Yulia Skripal that was the first case of using this nerve agent in Europe since the World War II.
- In response to Skripal poisoning, British Prime Minister Theresa May canceled all top-level meetings and expelled Russian diplomats from the country. Over 20 countries followed Britain’s suit and expelled over 100 Russian diplomats from their respective countries. The United States imposed sanctions against Russian oligarchs from President Putin’s inner circle.
