“This is delusional, in my opinion, this kind of fabrication,” he told a Russian reporter Friday. “And there are more and more of them every day, it is obvious to any more or less experienced political scientist.”
But it’s worth remembering two things. When it comes to generating disinformation, the Russian government has a formidable track record. And the confrontation seen between Lee and Price, with a reporter holding a top official’s feet to the fire, is a relative rarity in Russia.
Disinformation and propaganda are not new. But the war in Donbas has taken the practice to new heights for Russia.
Take, for instance, the kerfuffle over the leak to Spanish newspaper El Pais of US and NATO responses to Russian demands for security guarantees. US Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland blamed that particular leak story on Russia, and the Russian Foreign Ministry had a field day with that one.
A statement released by Russia’s embassy to the United States accused the Americans of trafficking in “conspiracy theories.” Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman for the Russian MFA, took a swipe at Nuland as well, saying on her Telegram, “Victoria, judging by your statement, Russia plays [cards] openly, and American players deal marked cards.”