Last fakes of the week
01 April 2026
Minskaya Pravda reported on the nonexistent ban on foreigners refueling at Polish gas stations
The Minskaya Pravda YouTube channel reported that Poland had prohibited the sale of fuel at gas stations to “non-Poles.” The Weekly Top Fake team discovered that no such decision had been made in the country. Rather, it was merely a request by the mayor of the border town of Świnoujście to limit the sale of fuel in jerry cans, prompted by German drivers buying up stocks at local gas stations.
misrepresentation, Poland, Minskaya pravda, Marina Subbota, rising prices, economy.
31 March 2026
Is Belarus the main supplier of snails to France? Belarusian radio exaggerated the country’s role in these imports
A guest on the Belarusian radio program Ekspertnyi klub claimed that France buys most of the snails from Belarus. However, trade data shows that Belarus’s share of French snail imports is minor, with other countries being the primary suppliers.
misrepresentation, Belarus, France, First national channel of Belarusian radio, Mikita Bialenchanka, economy, statistics.
30 March 2026
“We were shocked.” ONT TV channel falsely attributed remarks about Iran’s strength to Donald Trump
ONT TV channel said that the intensity of Iran’s strikes surprised Donald Trump. They showed a snippet of his conversation with reporters to prove it. However, in the original comment, he was referring to the stock market’s reaction to rising oil prices. He wasn’t shocked by Iran’s power or expecting it to fall soon.
misrepresentation, USA, Iran, All-National TV channel, Alexander Averkau, politics, war.
27 March 2026
“For the first time in the history of Christianity.” Azaronak twisted the history of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The host of the CTV program Azaryonok. Napryamuyu claimed that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem had been closed to visitors for the first time in 1,200 years. The Weekly Top Fake team found that this is not the case: the church has been closed in recent years and earlier periods, and services are still ongoing.
misrepresentation, Israel, CTV TV channel, Ryhor Azaronak, religion.
26 March 2026
“Belarusians are a nation of readers.” How officials and state media distort data on reading and book print runs in Belarus
Against the backdrop of the Minsk International Book Fair, state media once again highlighted Belarusians’ supposed love of reading and claimed that book circulation is on the rise. The Weekly Top Fake team discovered that these statements conflict with official statistics. The number of published books and their total print run have decreased in the country in recent years, and according to sociologists, the number of Belarusians who read regularly remains low.
misrepresentation, Belarus, Alpha Radio, Belarus Today, BelTA, Vadim Shepet, Alexander Khizhnyak, Denis Yezersky, literature.