In mid-June 2022, Internet users published a video with the performance of the First President of the Russian Federation in Washington and compared what was said with the speech of Vladimir Putin at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (PMEF). We checked the correctness of such publications.

On June 18 and 19, 2022, the same type of publications appeared in social networks comparing two performances of Russian leaders. One of them is the speech of the first president of the Russian Federation Boris Yeltsin in the US Congress on June 17, 1992, the other is the speech of the current head of state Vladimir Putin on plenary meeting PMEF exactly 30 years later. Internet users emphasized how rhetoric changed in 30 years: “Putin finished his performance with words about sovereignty, about faith in himself, about Russia. Yeltsin ended his speech with the words "God, keep America." It was the most shameful event in the latest history of Russia. ”

Such publications can be found on VKontakte in public "Donbass Media Group Gorlovka (" Corsa "division)" (108,000 subscribers at the time of writing this analysis), "Putin's information support" (85,000 subscribers), "Mikhail Soviet" (85,000 subscribers), "Union of red groups and all, faithful USSR!" (51,000 subscribers) and other communities. The performances of Putin and Yeltsin compared Telegram channels, among them "Main!" And "NEWS ducks" (for 202,000 subscribers for each). Similar posts were made by users Facebook*, "Zena" and other platforms.

To begin with, the authors of many such publications use videos in their posts, Placed On YouTube back in 2017. The video captures Boris Yeltsin, who speaks in front of the American congressmen. The video lasts a little more than two minutes and really ends with these words of the first president of post -Soviet Russia: “I would like to finish his speech with words from Songs American composer of Russian descent Irvina Berlin: "Lord, bless America!" "

Judging by the logo in the lower left corner, this record is taken from the broadcast of the American C-Span television channel. On his website, the full record of Yeltsin’s performance before the US Congress, which really took place on June 17, 1992, is available. Video It lasts more than 52 minutes. For the first two minutes, representatives of both chambers of the American parliament stand applaud the first Russian president. They met with a ovation and many statements by Yeltsin.

Judging by the full record, the first president of the Russian Federation completed his speech with the words: “I would like to finish his performance with words from the song of the American composer of Russian origin Irvin Berlin:“ Lord, bless America! ”... and add to this:“ And Russia! ” This wording, in which both countries are mentioned, is also recorded in the official stenigram meetings, Report The New York Times and audio recordings, affordable On the Yeltsin Center website.

Thus, the statements of Internet users about Yeltsin’s speech in the American Congress are based on the abbreviated version of the broadcast from the meeting room, in which the final remark of the first Russian president is so circumcised that it significantly distorts the meaning of what was said by him.

*Russian authorities They think Meta Platforms Inc., which owns the social network Facebook, an extremist organization, its activities in Russia are prohibited.

Photo on the cover: Franklin Dlano Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum