[De Standaard Article](https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20211006_97652924?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_term=dso&utm_content=article&utm_campaign=seeding&articlehash=WAlL5tQkqFNULh4rSMJiRtnTxvsjiB5mnPzz4t6GIu0Bcp%2B%2FLGkHkRmrOYFXADCTKLWfyL4XZmPWPKgsAVrEXZWghwTrN2WOKRcKcl2Vk1mN%2FnPQbEa1eUTQX4EiRAViUf9Z6JkkFKZw1mLJvkmeZkMQNSflFAgklSJ1sov6mnt9isB6Ekaup9qyGsQpwuPiNB0WA4llaX8ozM22QzPpZqVm3UAYZDHYNZt7lkG4%2BVsLq2F%2BT1%2BlCNq0XfeFbS9RVHvjo6s%2BWcdsp4iE%2Fyh69HDKna2gncCg0GwT%2FSCO9Kor8T5%2Byqr4dR9FDm0y46iiXVQC8UcZXBBHk4relEc0gw%3D%3D)

[HLN Article](https://www.hln.be/nieuws/leger-heeft-bewijs-complottheorieen-rond-jurgen-conings-opgepookt-vanuit-rusland~ab3e30c5/)

[Knack Article](https://www.knack.be/nieuws/belgie/complottheorieen-rond-jurgen-conings-opgepookt-vanuit-rusland/article-news-1787177.html)

[Nieuwsblad](https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20211006_96578086)

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Taken from De Standaard:

The radical ideas and conspiracy theories surrounding the disappearance and death of Jürgen Conings that were circulating on social media were co-spawned by Russian internet trolls. So says Admiral Michel Hofman, the top man in the Belgian army. His services have found evidence of Russian interference “with the aim of destabilizing our Western society and radicalizing people with us. During the disappearance of Jürgen Conings in May, and certainly after he was found dead, all kinds of suspicions were shared via social media. For example, the – unfounded – claim circulated that the soldier “knew too much” and therefore had been “murdered.

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Translated through deepl.com

23 comments

  1. While I do believe that the russians used this to their ends, it would probably have been the case anyway but cool that they found evidence.

  2. Hardly surprising. They did the same with Brexit and many other things. It’s easy for them, because they don’t have to achieve a particular outcome. All they need to do is poke up arguments and make sure people become angry and divided. A divided EU with countries fighting among themselves is easier for Russia to manipulate than a united one.

  6. When I went to check out his Twitter profile I mostly saw other sources but hey, blame it on the Russians again and point the finger away. Time to hang some Russian flags on that tree now?Are we really going to play this “game” and ignore the most obvious trolls he was following and sharing info from? Even if Russia had something to do with it, we shouldn’t ignore our own trolls or minimize their part in this bullshit.

    (Edit: I stand corrected, see below)

  7. The HLN-commenters are lit again. It’s crazy to see that they believe their own conspiracies, but don’t believe it when the chief of defence comes out with prove.

  8. Why did people think Russia was behind these theories? I think it’s a kind of bizarre assumption. Sure they try to manipulate elections and such, but conspiracy theories about this pretty random guy would seem a bit far fetched to me.

    Obviously there is proof now, but I never would have expected it.

  20. Can we get back to non-russian sponsored conspiracies? I’ll start: King Albert I was murdered either because he wanted to stay neutral in 36 (then it’s the French), because he was a womaniser (the queen or a jealous husband) or because he wanted to continue giving rights to Flemish people (Belgian establishment with help from the secret service).

  21. Sorry but the way this got handled is asking for conspiracy theories. The Russians probably only had a small role in this if they had one. Belgians do it better for themselves.

    I neither understand the snobbism toward HLN comments. Many of them are actually very reasonable (at least the ones I am seeing as the most recent comments).

  23. As much as the inconsistent reports in the news did not help, an inconsistency caused because all people responsible for this mess where trying to cover their arse, i do not get how people ever bought it. Quite ironic that most people who seemed to buy it on facebook where supporters of the VB party.

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