Cover Osteuropa 9-10/2022

In Osteuropa 9-10/2022

Disinformation Expert
Russia, Ukraine, and Ms. Krone-Schmalz

Franziska Davies


Deutsche Fassung

Abstract

Gabriele Krone-Schmalz, former Moscow correspondent for the German broadcast network ARD, rose to prominence on television. In Germany, parts of the general public consider her a “Russia expert”. Recently, she spoke in Reutlingen about “Russia and Ukraine” as well as the war. Her message is simple: the “West” is to blame, it has ignored Russia’s interests, expanded NATO, and forced Russia to react. This thesis cannot be supported using facts. If one looks at the facts in Krone-Schmalz’s lecture and books and checks her arguments and the presentation of the evidence, one finds numerous examples of distortions, half-truths, the manipulative use of sources, and false statements. Empirically and methodically, Ms. Krone-Schmalz’s statements are untenable. She is engaged in disinformation.

(Osteuropa 9-10/2022, pp. 245–265)