DISINFO: In Georgia, the struggle was between common sense and Western curators
SUMMARY
The main struggle in Georgia during the parliamentary "pre-election" was not "for" and "against" European integration, not between "Russophiles and Russophobes", not for the future of the country, which was seen in society in completely different ways.
They fought simply for common sense (the current government and the "Georgian Dream") and for the "wishes" of Western curators (the pro-Western parties of Zurabishvili, Saakashvili and others), who would not mind opening a second front against Russia in Georgia.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about an allegedly aggressive West playing a destabilising role in the Caucasus. The claim also advances a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative presenting the Georgian President and opposition as puppets, whom the Western countries use against Russia. This claim was made in the context of Georgia's parliamentary elections on Saturday 26 October 2024. See the latest statement from J Borrell concerning the elections in Georgia: Statement by the High Representative Josep Borrell on the latest developments following the Parliamentary elections | EEAS.
Since the launch of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, pro-Kremlin and other Russian state-controlled outlets actively deployed disinformation narratives that the US, the EU, or even Ukraine are aiming to change power in Georgia and drag the country into the war with Russia, to open a ‘second front’ against Moscow and to ease the situation for Kyiv on the Ukrainian front.
These claims are groundless. Western countries are not interested in an escalation of the war. Neither the US nor the EU, nor Ukraine, are pushing Georgia to open a second front against Moscow.
Calling President Salome Zurabishvili and the Georgian opposition a puppet of the West is a frequent conspiracy theory that easily dismisses any desire within Georgian society to join the European Union project.
Georgia’s ruling party has adopted increasingly hostile rhetoric against the EU and the West as it seeks to clamp down on the opposition. Pro-Kremlin outlets have readily aligned with government rhetoric ahead of the elections. Read EUvsDisinfo's article on "Twists and turns: Georgian Dream rhetoric on the EU", as well as other analyses: “Georgia: Resilience in action” and “Georgia: The next colour revolution?”.
Read also relates cases: Frenchwoman Salome Zourabichvili is a Western puppet wanting to transform Georgia into a colony; Zurabishvili, a spy of the West and a traitor of Georgia, wants to create a Maidan to avoid ending up in prison; West wants to start a colour revolution in Georgia and use it against Russia; EU punishes Georgia for being independent and not Russophobic enough; Georgia’s parliamentary elections to turn into a revolution or a coup d'état; The US plans a colour revolution in Georgia after October elections.