"Zelenskyy will be illegitimate in a week": fakes and manipulations of world media on May 14

Espreso TV reported the information.

According to the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, one fake and one manipulation appeared in the world on May 14.

Manipulation: Irish journalist Chay Bowes wrote on his page on X: "As Ukraines slow-motion collapse continues, the corrupt Ukrainain elites who conspired with the NATO elites to ban Peace talks, will continue to send ordinary citizens to their deaths. They will count the money, while Ukrainains count the cost." 

Refutation: The purpose of such manipulative statements is to discredit the Ukrainian government and the mobilization process in Ukraine. In fact, it is Russia that is not ready for peace talks, and this is reflected in its constant escalation of military actions against Ukraine.

Disinformation: Former US intelligence officer Ray McGovern explained to US columnist Andrew Napolitano that according to him, Zelenskyy would remain president until the 20th of that month. He further remarked that in a week's time, Zelenskyy would become entirely illegitimate due to the postponement of the election, which was when the new president was supposed to assume office.

Refutation: The term of Volodymyr Zelenskyy's presidency does not end on May 20. The narrative of Zelenskyy's "illegitimacy" is part of a Russian propaganda campaign aimed at discrediting the Ukrainian president. It is also worth remembering that presidential elections are not held in Ukraine, as the Constitution and relevant legislation prohibit any elections under martial law.

• Earlier, Ukraine's Justice Minister Denys Maliuska said that Zelenskyy would not lose legitimacy after his term expires, and that all documents he signed would come into force after May 21.