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Far-right commentator Candace Owens declared that "Russian lives matter" on Twitter, amplifying a slogan that the Kremlin has used as part of its disinformation efforts.
Owens, declaring that it is "appalling how Russians are being treated in America and abroad," garnered the attention of Russian embassy, which retweeted her message.
Welp. The Russian Embassy in the United States is now retweeting Candace Owens, who is amplifying a slogan (\u201cRussian Lives Matter\u201d) that is part of a coordinated disinformation campaign.pic.twitter.com/tWeLRMSe16— Caroline Orr Bueno, Ph.D (@Caroline Orr Bueno, Ph.D) 1647232384
The phrase "Russian lives matter" has been promoted by Russian operatives associated with the Internet Research Agency (IRA) who have simultaneously encouraged supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement and advocated for violence against the group.
In a piece for Foreign Policy in 2020, the historian Kimberly St. Julian-Varnon that the development of the "Russian Lives Matter" social media movement, which has been employed by Russian activists who've spoken out against police brutality at home, "is perhaps the strongest example of how the liberal opposition in Russia has unwittingly aided its government in subverting a global anti-racist effort."
But this disinformation is significantly more pernicious.
Julian-Varnon observes that the hashtag #RussianLivesMatter "has been used to undermine the American fight against systemic racism by downplaying the impact of racism against African Americans, by suggesting police killings of Black Americans were deserved, and by framing empathy towards victims of police violence in Russia as a zero-sum game," satisfying the Kremlin's objectives.
The fact that the Russian embassy endorsed Owens' statements exposed her to significant criticism.
How do you say you\u2019re a #RussianAsset without saying you\u2019re a #RussianAssethttps://twitter.com/realcandaceo/status/1501576352587292673\u00a0\u2026— truthgibbon (@truthgibbon) 1647291037
You are either a paid Russian propagandist, a victim of Stockholm Syndrome, or just out to lunch. Sad.https://twitter.com/RealCandaceO/status/1501576352587292673\u00a0\u2026— Grace Talbot (@Grace Talbot) 1647292141
Someone going to tell her Putin doesn't have the rubles anymore to pay her for spreading his propaganda for him?https://twitter.com/RealCandaceO/status/1501576352587292673\u00a0\u2026— Lis DONE W/CHEMO! #SuperHuman #UkraineStrong \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Lis DONE W/CHEMO! #SuperHuman #UkraineStrong \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1647278926
Please tell us .@RealCandaceO when Ukraine became the aggressor, bombing russian cities killing women & children, bombing hospitals & people fleeing the devastation? You don't like the way the world is treating russia? There are flights leaving for Moscow daily. Be on one.https://twitter.com/RealCandaceO/status/1501576352587292673\u00a0\u2026— \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 Zoe Washburne 2.0--Vaxxed and Boosted \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 Zoe Washburne 2.0--Vaxxed and Boosted \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1647279682
If you think Russians are treated poorly abroad, just wait until you find out how Russians are treated at home! Especially journalists, rival politicians, peaceful protestors and critics of the state!https://twitter.com/realcandaceo/status/1501576352587292673\u00a0\u2026— The Rob Burgess Show (@The Rob Burgess Show) 1647282999
.@RealCandaceO, I don't think you have a chance at beating @TuckerCarlson for Kremlin Employee of the Month, but nice try!https://twitter.com/RealCandaceO/status/1501576352587292673\u00a0\u2026— Choc O'Phile (@Choc O'Phile) 1647286311
Well, good for you, Candace. You're becoming Putin's favorite propaganda minister here in America! Congrats! When are you leaving for Moscow?https://twitter.com/RealCandaceO/status/1501576352587292673\u00a0\u2026— Chris Wildman (@Chris Wildman) 1647288146
She already lost me at: \u201cblack lives matter\u201d hysteria...\n@RealCandaceO long ago sold out the black community for her own grift...so it shouldn't be shocking she's sold out our country with her pretend patriotism and deceitful spewing for her own personal gain.https://twitter.com/RealCandaceO/status/1501576352587292673\u00a0\u2026— Glenn Farrington \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Glenn Farrington \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1647291894
It appears we have Russian media in Nashville now.https://twitter.com/RealCandaceO/status/1501576352587292673\u00a0\u2026— Brent Byard (@Brent Byard) 1647278774
Owens' tweet comes amid reports that Russia is experiencing a brain drain as many professionals, believing that their lives in Russia are over, have fled the country in protest of President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
More than 25,000 Russians have arrived in Georgia alone in the weeks since the invasion began and a New York Times piece notes that "Tens of thousands of Russians have fled to Istanbul" in recent days. Russians have also begun to pour into Armenia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, and the land border with Latvia.