We investigate corruption, uncover fake news and analyze the news agenda. The BIC is a member of the global network of investigative journalists.
Our journalists are the recipients of the national award “Free Word” from the Association of Journalists of Belarus in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. At "Free Word" 2021 BIC’s team also received first place for Analytics
BIC is a member of the OCCRP (Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project)
We are also members of GIJN (Global Investigative Journalism Network)
Drag Queen was Misidentified as Spanish Lawmaker by Outlet “Minskaya Pravda”
We found the same photo on his Instagram. It was shot at the International Drag Day celebration in July 2024.
A Spanish lawmaker dressed in a woman's outfit and took a speech on the parliament podium, the Belarus pro-government media "Minskaya Pravda" reported. The Weekly Top Fake team found the original photo of the speaker and identified who he actually was.
“The Spanish parliament is going crazy” was highlighted in the project “Acute Politics” on the YouTube channel of the state media outlet “Minskaya Pravda” on October 4, 2024. Here is how the presenter commented on the photo being shown at that moment:
“A Spanish parliamentarian has shocked the world community. No, this is not a new boss from the [video game — ed.] DLC Elden Ring or Black Myth: Wukong, but just an elected representative. Spaniards, it seems, do not recognize half-measures at all. Here is the most Catholic and radically minded country in Europe, and here is a parliamentarian putting chicken legs on his head and speaking from the podium with a serious expression in a dress. This is a man, I remind you. Of course, you can try to pretend to be imperturbable, but this is already such a clinic, by God.”
The WTF team found the photo of the man in a dress on the social network X (ex Twitter). The post claims that this is a Spanish minister, but not a deputy. But both the first version and the second are false.
In fact, the photo shows a representative of drag culture — the artist Sorni, who transforms into female looks. We found the same photo on his Instagram. It was shot at the International Drag Day celebration in July 2024. The event was organized in collaboration with the Spanish Ministry of Equality.
In the group photo of the participants, there is also an official, but he is dressed conservatively — in a suit with a tie.