The Department of Education and Culture of the Lviv City Council refuted rumors that a child did not receive a gift from St. Nicholas due to their language of communication. They confirmed that all children in Lviv kindergartens receive the same treatment, regardless of the language they speak. This information was spread by the Center for Strategic Communications.
A lack of a screenshot from a parents' chat in social networks sparked a discussion, where it was falsely stated that 'children speaking Russian will not receive gifts from St. Nicholas.'
Manipulative information exploiting someone else's misfortune
After investigating the matter, the Department of Education and Culture of the Lviv City Council confirmed that this was a deliberate spread of manipulative information. They noted that all children in city kindergartens are treated equally, regardless of their language.
Andriy Zakaliyuk, the head of the department, emphasized that children are not responsible for the views or language of their parents and noted that spreading such fakes is a means of inciting hostility and distrust.
Recall that recently, a conflict occurred in Lviv over language between a local resident and a couple speaking Russian in a public place.
As a result of the information verification, the Department of Education and Culture of the Lviv City Council stated that all children in the city's kindergartens receive equal treatment, regardless of the language they communicate in. The refutation turned out to be a result of a deliberate attempt to manipulate information that could lead to increased hostility and distrust.