Ukraine has confirmed that it declared nationalist George Simion, who’s running for president in Romania, persona non grata for spreading narratives that are part of the Russian propaganda playbook to try and undermine the country’s sovereignty.
„ George Simion’s statements aim to discredit Ukraine internationally and promote an unionist ideology (reunifying parts of Ukraine with Romania) which deny the legitimacy of the Ukrainian borders. Moreover, he spreads the narrative about alleged abuse of Romanian minority rights,” a statement from Kiev said that was made public by the Romanian government.
At the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in Feb. 2022, the Kremlin produced a list of propaganda disinformation and narratives for its agents to spread internationally, which Universul.net published.
Disinformation and propaganda are key weapons Moscow uses after it invaded Ukraine in Feb. 2022.
One of the propaganda points was that Romania must reclaim its territories that are now part of Ukraine, and the alleged mistreatment of the Romanian minority, topics which Mr. Simion has promoted which resulted in his ban. Mr. Simion has denied he’s a Russian agent, insisting he is promoting the interests of Romanians.
The pro-Western government in Chisinau have also banned Mr. Simion from neighboring Moldova, although the reasons have not been disclosed.
Romania signed a bilateral treaty with Ukraine in 1997, that resolved territorial and minority issues, as a condition of joining NATO, something it did in 2004.
Russia seeks to undermine Romania’s relationship with Ukraine and stir tensions about the Romanian minority and the border.
In its statement, the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) said Mr. Simion’s ban was for “systematic anti-Ukrainian activities,” which are “contrary to the national interests of Ukraine and violate its state sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Mr. Simion claimed his activity was pro-Romanian and added that the Romanian state was continuing Stalin and Hitler’s policies, using a line from the Kremlin playbook.
