DISINFO: Georgia’s parliamentary elections to turn into a revolution or a coup d'état
SUMMARY
The upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia might well spill into a revolution or a coup d'état.
War and revolution are two things that are being quietly prepared. The threats that are now being directed at some Georgian politicians, the threats from the EU are a manifestation of the signs that some trouble may begin in Tbilisi.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Georgia in the run-up to the parliamentary elections, pre-emptively framing any future protests as a Western-sponsored colour revolution and a coup d'état. The claim also portrays Georgia as a puppet state.
The EU does not threaten Georgia. According to the EU Ambassador to Georgia, Pawel Herczynski, the bloc may consider temporarily suspending its visa-free regime with Tbilisi if the parliamentary elections in Georgia (the EU candidate country) is not free, fair and peaceful. A spokesperson for the European Commission further noted that an assessment on the visa-free regime for Georgia would of course take place in case of developments posing a risk to the internal security of the Schengen area, as well as in case of a further democratic decline in the country.
The claim fits well into the recurring disinformation narrative suggesting a Western policy of staging “colour revolutions” worldwide with the aim of destabilising Russia.
Pro-Kremlin media 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 Washington and Brussels are betting on a new "Maidan" in Georgia, that The West tried to force Georgia to open a “second front” against Russia, that The US plans a colour revolution in Georgia after October elections, that The US is preparing a “Tbilisi Maidan” in Georgia, that The West is seeking a coup d'etat in Georgia, that The West wants to turn Georgia into an anti-Russian springboard, attempts to influence elections to replace current government, that US and EU wants to orchestrate Euromaidan-like scenario in Georgia at parliamentary elections, that The US plans to change power in Georgia through protests to be blamed on Russia, that West plans to orchestrate Georgia maidan, install government to confront Russia or that West behind Georgia protests to turn the country into a second front against Russia.