From June 4 to 8, Georgian-language (1, 2, 3, 4) and Russian-language Facebook accounts (1, 2, 3, 4) disseminated an LGBTQ+-themed photo illustration featuring a logo with the inscription, Kyiv Digital, and LGBTQ+ flags in the background. Facebook users wrote that for Pride Month, Kyiv metro has designed new metro cards featuring men kissing. In the description of the photo, Facebook users say that on June 16, the so-called parade will be held in the Kyiv metro.
An identical photo and its description were posted on the Telegram channel by Alexander Skubchenko, a political expert propagating the Kremlin’s ideas.
The photo with the wrong description was posted manipulatively. The Kyiv metro did not design LGBTQ+ -themed metro cards. Such information cannot be found on the websites of either Kyiv metro or Kyiv Digital. Kyiv Digital denied information about designing LGBTQ+ travel cards.
A photo illustration circulated on social media shows the logo with the inscription, Kyiv Digital, which is a mobile application for tourists. It includes Kyiv’s digital museum, maps of the city, information about cultural events in Kyiv; in addition, the application allows tourists to purchase e-tickets for public transport. According to the official webpage of Kyiv Digital, it was created in 2021 and is owned by the city administration, Kyiv City Council.
On the official site of Kyiv Digital, tourists are offered transport e-cards in only two designs.
After searching for information in open sources, Myth Detector checked with Kyiv Digital representatives. They said that there are no plans to develop a new design or special transport cards, and that the photo illustration that is wrongly attributed to them is a fake.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the plan is to celebrate Pride Month for the first time this year. According to the organizers’ original plan, the Equality March was to take place for security reasons in Kyiv’s metro on June 16. However, on June 3, the Kyiv City Council denied permission to hold the march in the metro, citing the safety of participants and the risk of provocations.
In the past, Myth Detector has verified the spread of false news on the topic of LGBTQ+ in relation to Ukraine. Read more in the following materials:
- DID OFFICIAL SAME-SEX MARRIAGE TAKE PLACE IN KHARKIV?
- DISINFORMATION THAT SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IS ALLOWED IN UKRAINE
- DISINFORMATION THAT UKRAINE SIGNED A MEMO ON TEACHING LGBT TOPICS IN SCHOOLS
About the sources:
Facebook account Maya Tvaltvadze regularly disseminates disinformation and conspiracy theories. False information spread by Tvaltvadze has been repeatedly checked by Myth Detector in the past.
Facebook account Mano Beridze has often posted misleading news in the past. Myth Detector has already flagged some of them as false information.
Levan Tavdishvili regularly publishes anti-Western and anti-Ukrainian posts and conspiracy theories.
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