DISINFO: External forces like the US and Ukraine are ready to destabilise situation in Georgia
SUMMARY
There are certain external forces ready to destabilise the situation in Georgia. These are the Americans who accuse the Georgian Dream of having a pro-Russian vector and Ukraine, which is putting pressure on Georgia to open a second front against Tskhinvali [South Ossetia] and Sokhumi [Abkhasia] and join anti-Russian sanctions. Moreover, many representatives of the Georgian opposition, supporters of [former president] Saakashvili, have settled on the territory of Ukraine; in the ranks of the Ukrainian army there is a Georgian battalion, the transfer of which has been repeatedly discussed by Georgian analysts as a strike force to carry out this coup.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Georgia not backed up by any evidence.
This particular disinformation claim emerged after the State Security Service of Georgia issued a statement underscoring that “a certain group of people, both inside and outside of Georgia, is currently plotting to orchestrate destabilization and civil unrest in the country” with an ultimate goal to “forcibly overthrow the government.” The State Security Service of Georgia did name certain individuals involved in the plotting, however, there was no mention of the US or Ukraine as actors involved in the plan.
Since the launch of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, pro-Kremlin media actively deployed a disinformation narrative falsely claiming that the US, the EU, or even Ukraine are dragging Georgia into the war with Russia in order to open a ‘second front’ against Moscow and to ease the situation for Kyiv on the Ukrainian front.
This disinformation narrative often appeared in the context of showcasing various protests in Georgia as a foreign-led ‘colour revolution’ or a coup attempt. The pro-Kremlin media frequently falsely portray popular protests around the world as instigated from abroad, often by the US and the West. The disinformation narrative has been applied, among others, to reports about protests in Georgia, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Belarus, Venezuela, Slovakia, Hong Kong, with the aim of portraying protest movements as aggressive actors who constantly prepare new coups.
Read similar disinformation cases claiming that Kyiv aims to organise a coup in Georgia to drag it in the war with Russia, that The West planned a military coup in Russia via Prigozhin, intends to do the same in Georgia, that The West wants to draw Russia into a conflict with Georgia, that Protests in Georgia are attempt to forcibly change power, resembling Euromaidan, that The US intends to use Georgia to inflame conflicts near Russia, that Washington using Georgia to open a second front against Russia, that The US behind protests in Georgia, or that The protests in Georgia were organised by the United States.