The post spreads falsehoods and shares an edited video that abuses the brand and credibility of Euronews television. Euronews issued a statement that the video was fake and not edited by the broadcaster itself, and the German auction house Bolland-Marotz confirmed that an event like the one described in the Facebook post was never planned to take place

We are reviewing a Facebook post, in which a video was published. The description of the post says that Russian works of art from previous centuries are being destroyed, and the profits go to support the military of Ukraine.

Then the post adds:

One day people will look back on these times with horror and realize how far they have strayed. Did they do the same after the unprovoked US invasion of Iraq, Libya, Syria, Afghanistan? Hypocrites. They are on the same level as ISIS. European values.

The video falsely imitates a report on French television that “a German auction house is organizing a donation evening for the Ukrainian armed forces, and that participants are encouraging the public destruction of Russian art.” The video adds that letters from Dostoevsky and handwritten music from Tchaikovsky have already been published for the auction. According to the fake video, the event is an opportunity for the civilized world to protest against Russian aggression in Ukraine. The video even falsely quotes a statement from the auction house, which was never made, saying that they stated: “Russia has discredited itself with military aggression in Ukraine and that the disappearance of Russian culture is the logical outcome.”

The clip features the Euronews logo, along with the same font and graphics used by the broadcaster in its social media coverage. You can see an example at the following link.

According to the fabricated video and accompanying report, the Bolland-Marotz auction house invited art collectors to bid on paintings by Russian artists, works by writers, and other antiquities.

After the sale, they will all be publicly destroyed, and the collected funds will be allocated to the armed forces of Ukraine, says the fabricated video.

However, Euronews released a statement on Twitter disclosing that the video was fake and that it was not graphically processed by the television itself.

Euronews did not produce nor publish this video. Our graphics and format were used without Euronews’ consent. We are taking steps to have it deleted from all platforms and actively investigating where this video comes from, Euronews said in a post on Twitter.

The network also published text about the fake video.

Bolland&Marotz issued a statement on its website saying:

A video linked to the name of Bolland and Marotz, for an auction of Russian art, is circulating on the Internet and social networks. This video is edited, and fake. Such an auction as described in the video will not happen. Bolland & Marotz has strictly distanced itself from this video and we are appalled and angry that our name has been misused.

Truthmeter did not find the video shared in the post we are reviewing on Euronews’ site, on their social media channels, or on Bolland & Marotz’s website.

Due to all the above facts, we assess that the post is untrue and the video is a montage and abuse of the brand and credibility of Euronews. Euronews is not the creator of the video and report, and the German auction house has confirmed that an event like the one described in this Facebook post was never planned.

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