DISINFO: Anti-Russian outlet Bellingcat almost caused a war between Georgia and Azerbaijan
SUMMARY
Another lie from the notorious Western project “Bellingcat”, actively used by Georgian media to disseminate anti-Russian propaganda that pleased its foreign sponsors, almost caused a very real conflict. On November 1, information was circulated that Azerbaijani troops allegedly occupied part of Georgian territory near the junction of the borders of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia. Other media picked up the story but without quoting its origin, causing alarm among Georgian citizens. Local media, even after realising that the Bellingcat news was an outright lie, chose to remain silent rather than dissipate fears. The discrediting of this anti-Russian resource was more unacceptable for them than alleviating panic.
RESPONSE
No evidence is provided to prove that Bellingcat's original report caused any escalation between Georgia and Azerbaijan beyond already existing tensions. This is part of a recurrent Russian effort to discredit the highly respected investigative site Bellingcat, which uncovered many elements in cases such as the downing of the MH17 flight or the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergey Skripal that contradict and expose Russian disinformation narratives. In our database, you can find other examples of false accusations against Bellingcat, such as it being anti-Russian, its instrumentalisation by governments to contradict proof of Russia's innocence or its alleged fabrication of evidence against Moscow.