DISINFO: The West is only interested in Georgia as a weapon in the fight against Russia
SUMMARY
For our "strategic partners," Georgia is a consumable material in the political games. Small countries are often sacrificed to the political games of large states. This is exactly the period we are facing now. The West is only interested in Georgia as a territory and this has been repeatedly confirmed. The West wants to modify Georgian legislation according to its own template, and this is because the West can change and get rid of the unwanted government whenever it desires. That is why, lately, they [the Western partners] are talking only about the coalition government, a model of government that can be overthrown at any time. That is why we are being used as one of the main weapons in the fight against Russia (and the main weapon in the region).
RESPONSE
A common pro-Kremlin narrative on “lost sovereignty” challenging Georgian statehood and claiming that Georgia is ruled by the West. This narrative is consistent with the recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the belligerent West trying to encircle Russia.
Georgia is not under the control of any foreign government or organisation. Both the EU and the US respect Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The EU and Georgia enjoy a good relationship based on the EU-Georgia Association Agreement including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), which entered into force in July 2016 and strives for political association and economic integration. The EU is Georgia’s main trading partner, with a 27% share of its total trade in 2020. Moreover, The EU is Georgia’s largest donor and provides over €120 million of grant money annually to support Georgia’s ambitious reform agenda.
Media Development Foundation's media monitoring results revealed that the narrative that the West is meddling in the sovereign affairs of Georgia and is virtually running the country is one of the main trends of anti-Western propaganda and disinformation in the country.