WHATABOUTISM

Whataboutism was a common propaganda tactic used in the Soviet Union.

It refers to responding to an accusation or criticism by raising a seemingly equivalent but unrelated criticism of the accuser or a third party.

Its goal is to deflect attention from the original issue by introducing a new one, undermine the credibility of the accuser by implying hypocrisy or double standards, and justify the original action by suggesting that others are doing the same or worse.