DISINFO: The EU is instigating protests among Georgia’s youth
SUMMARY
The European Union does not want to let Georgia go because it is an important bastion of Western influence in the Transcaucasia region, according to the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR). The West has started to work more actively to unite Georgian opposition parties and form a united fist against the ruling Georgian Dream. At the same time, attempts are being made to launch street protest activity in Georgia.
The EU Representation in Tbilisi has received significant funding to support and coordinate the demonstrations. Each participant in the anti-government protests will be paid up to 120 euros per day of "work". Attention is also being paid to the formation of anti-government sentiments among the most dynamic part of local youth, such as bloggers, journalists, or IT specialists. Under the Georgian Youth for Europe programme, young Georgians will be offered grants of up to 50,000 euros for "progressive" projects, with loyalty to the West being the main criterion for allocating funds.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about the European Union and foreign interference, distorting the character of the EU’s work in Georgia and baselessly accusing the block of destabilising actions in the country.
The allegation is not backed by any evidence. Allegations made by Russia’s intelligence services - as is this one - cannot be considered credible, given their proven history of making unsubstantiated claims based on faked or non-existent proofs, for example about US biolaboratories in Ukraine or the presence of French combat troops on the Ukrainian frontlines.
This disinformation story also grossly misrepresents the work of the association Georgian Youth for Europe, which is a local NGO. While this organization is listed as an accredited partner organization in the European Youth Portal, claims about “grants of 50,000 euro” for it are unsubstantiated. This NGO’s work focuses on promoting awareness on environmental, human rights and educational topics, which can hardly be considered “progressive” causes.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that US, EU, pro-Western opposition and president tried to carry out a coup in Georgia, that the EU punishes Georgia for being independent and not Russophobic enough, that the EU mission in Armenia is a military intelligence operation, that the EU wants to oust Russia from the Caucasus, or that the EU is testing methods of European totalitarianism in Moldova.