DISINFO: Protests in Georgia are foreign-supported to generate anti-Russian sentiments
SUMMARY
There are external attempts to use internal events in Georgia as a tool to generate anti-Russian sentiment in the country. The foreign agents law approved by the Georgian parliament has nothing to do with Moscow. Behind all the protests in Tbilisi is a familiar and experienced Hollywood hand.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about foreign-led protests and Russia as the ultimate target of international events. Framing all popular protests against Russia’s interests as foreign-led is a frequent pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative.
Georgia’s protests 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.
The law, inspired by a similar repressive measure in Russia, may endanger the democratic reforms Georgia needs in its aspiration to join the European Union.
It also appears to be deeply unpopular among Georgian citizens as tens of thousands of people have attended the recent protests. In 2023, a similar wave of protests against a previous attempt to approve the bill forced the withdrawal of the legislation, which has been reintroduced again by the Georgian government.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that Washington is using Georgia to open a second front against Russia, that Ukrainians and the EU demanded that Georgia open a second front against Russia, that the West urges Georgia to open a second front against Russia, that The US and EU are pushing Georgia to start a war with Russia, and that The US intends to drag Georgia into the war with Russia.