DISINFO: Despite multiple failed coup attempts EU bodies still desire regime change in Georgia
SUMMARY
The results of the 2024 parliamentary elections and the 2025 local government elections, as well as five failed coup attempts, have not dissuaded Western political elites from the need for power change in Georgia, although their tactics are not particularly creative.
The European Commission, the European Council, the European Parliament, PACE, the OSCE/ODIHR, and the Venice Commission, with enviable consistency, continue to issue verdicts on 'violations of democracy in Georgia' and blackmail its citizens by cancelling their visa-free travel with the EU.
Representatives of the Western diplomatic corps accredited in Georgia continue to demonstratively support the radical opposition and even regularly join protest rallies in central Tbilisi.
RESPONSE
This is an unfounded recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative falsely portraying popular protests as foreign-led colour revolution and accusing the EU of attempting a coup in Georgia.
Since the launch of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, pro-Kremlin outlets actively deployed groundless 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. See our article Russian scripts, Georgian voices: How disinformation targets the country’s Western allies: the US, EU, and UK in Georgia.
Moreover, pro-Kremlin outlets have long been warning of an upcoming ‘colour revolution’ in Georgia in order to pre-emptively shape the information space ahead of what were foreseeable and likely protests against the ruling party, already shaken by previous massive demonstrations against the so-called ‘Foreign Agents Law’. The topic was covered in detail in our analysis.
Pro-Kremlin outlets frequently falsely portray popular protests around the world as 'colour revolutions' instigated from abroad, often by the US and the West. The disinformation narrative has been applied, among others, to reports about protests in Georgia, Armenia, 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 also EUvsDisinfo's articles on “Georgia: Resilience in action” and “Georgia: The next colour revolution?”.
Read similar disinformation cases claiming that October 4 coup attempt in Georgia was planned from abroad, that Foreign special services are behind the calls to overthrow the Georgian government, that The UK is preparing another revolution in Georgia, that The EU is instigating protests among Georgia’s youth, that The West wants to force a coup in Georgia, that Western intelligence services are planning a coup in Georgia, that Georgia has prevented a Maidan-style coup coordinated from abroad, that Ukraine and the West bet on Georgia regime change to open a second front against Russia, that The Georgian government has been forced to open a “second front”, or that The EU plans to use Georgia as cannon fodder in the war against Russia.