Ukrainians Cancel Pro-Russian Film Screening in Lisbon

What Happened

The documentary "EAST upside down – truth and war" was to be shown at Auditório Camões in Lisbon. Efforts by the Ukrainian embassy in Portugal and the Ukrainian Community Association led to its cancellation.

Pavel Sadokha, Vice President of the Ukrainian World Congress for Southern Europe and leader of the Ukrainian Association in Portugal, announced the cancellation on social media. He labeled the film as propaganda by Italian and Belgian creators Sara Reginella and Alexandre Penasse, which attempted to assign blame to Ukraine for the conflict that began in 2014.

Key Details

This narrative often serves Russian propaganda's agenda to undermine Ukraine's sovereignty. Reports indicated that the auditorium's management was initially misinformed about the film's content, resulting in its initial approval.

After becoming aware of the film, the Ukrainian community voiced their concerns, prompting the embassy to act swiftly to address the misinformation. Sadokha expressed gratitude to the Ukrainian embassy and the Lisbon municipality for their prompt intervention against this cultural propaganda.

Background

This event is reminiscent of similar actions by Ukrainian communities globally, such as the cancellation of a Russian cosmonaut event in Israel due to comparable concerns. It reflects the ongoing dedication of the Ukrainian diaspora to counter disinformation from pro-Russian sources.

By rallying local support and cooperating with governmental bodies, Ukrainians worldwide are challenging propaganda that seeks to legitimize aggression against their country. The cancellation signifies the resolve of the Ukrainian diaspora to uphold their nation's reputation and sovereignty.