Repressive regimes don’t tell the truth, and, if they do, it’s because the truth works to their advantage. Truth, for undemocratic regimes, is malleable. And they’ve no shame. Look at China’s attempt to blame America for the coronavirus pandemic. Iran has gone a step further and is blaming Israel and America for Covid-19. The Soviet Union and Nazi Germany made propaganda – in other words, lies – a feature of their regimes.