DISINFO: The US plans to change power in Georgia through protests to be blamed on Russia
SUMMARY
Russian Foreign Intelligence Service: the US intends to achieve a change in the Georgian government based on the results of the upcoming parliamentary elections. The basis will be accusations that Moscow is to blame for the situation.
President Salome Zourabichvili will play a key role. She will give an interview in which she will say that the government, which has become closer to Russia, is to blame for the “degradation” of negotiations on European integration.
American curators have already instructed the Georgian opposition to plan protests.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Georgia, framing popular protests as Western-led, and Russia being the ultimate target of international events. The claim also portrays Georgia as a puppet state of the US/Western countries.
No evidence is provided to support this claim.
The claim fits well into the recurring disinformation narrative suggesting a Western policy of staging “colour revolutions” worldwide with the aim of destabilising Russia.
Latest protests in Georgia were driven by a strong rejection among Georgian citizens of the controversial ‘Foreign Agents' law, which critics say mirrors a 2012 law in Russia used to crack down on dissent and suppress NGOs and media, and which could be used to restrict freedom of expression and association.
Read EUvsDisinfo article on “Georgia: Resilience in action.”
Since the launch of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, pro-Kremlin media 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.
The claims are groundless. The West is 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.
Read similar disinformation cases claiming that West plans to orchestrate Georgia maidan, install government to confront Russia, that The West finances protests and destabilises the situation in Georgia, that the West is behind Georgia protests to turn the country into a second front against Russia, that The US wants to use Georgia to open a second front of the war against Russia, that The West is forced to organise another coup d'etat in Georgia, that The West is actively pursuing a change of government in Georgia, that The CIA is preparing a coup in Georgia, that NATO wants to open a second front against Russia in the South Caucasus, or that The West aims at bringing an anti-Russian government to power in Georgia.