DISINFO: The EU plans to pay Georgian youth 120 euros per day for anti-government demonstrations
SUMMARY
The EU leadership is aiming to 'return Georgia to the path of democracy and European integration' at any cost. The Brussels Euro-bureaucracy cannot allow the loss of this 'important stronghold of Western influence in the Caucasus.'
The EU is attempting to develop street protests in Georgia, which should become “proof of the sustainability of pro-European views among ordinary Georgians.” The EU representation in Tbilisi has been given significant funds to maintain and coordinate the demonstrations. It is planned to pay each participant in the anti-government demonstrations 120 euros per day for their daily 'work'.
In case the Georgian authorities try to block the EU channels for financing subversive actions, the option of transferring cash from the embassies of EU countries in Armenia to Tbilisi is being worked out.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin conspiracy theories and disinformation narratives about the European Union and foreign interference, framing popular protests in Georgia as Western-led attempt at a ‘colour revolution’ or a coup d'état, distorting the character of the EU’s work in Georgia and baselessly accusing it of destabilising actions in the country.
The claim is not backed by any evidence. Allegations made by Russia’s intelligence services - as is this one - cannot be considered as such, given their proven history of making unsubstantiated claims based on faked or non-existent proofs, for example about US bio laboratories in Ukraine or the presence of French combat troops on the Ukrainian frontline.
The EU Ambassador to Georgia, Pawel Herczynski, dismissed claims from Russian intelligence describing the accusations as “baseless” and “a blatant lie.” Herczynski stressed that such statements were part of Russia’s broader hybrid warfare strategy.
There is no evidence to support the allegations of any foreign involvement in the protests in Georgia. Recent mass protests in Georgia, which were already ongoing over allegations of election rigging, intensified following the ruling Georgian Dream party’s latest decision to halt efforts to start the accession negotiations with the EU until 2028. Protesters faced severe police brutality and violent clashes, accompanied with mass arrests and beating of demonstrators. Journalists were among those injured or abused during the rallies.
Pro-Kremlin media have been warning for a long time 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 this analysis.
This kind of rhetoric aims to fuel anti-Western sentiment in Georgia, portraying the EU as an adversary rather than a partner. Such narratives are commonly used in Kremlin-backed disinformation campaigns to undermine Georgia’s European aspirations and paint Western institutions as meddling forces. By distorting the EU’s stance, these accusations attempt to erode public trust in European integration and democratic reforms.
Read also EUvsDisinfo's articles on “Twists and turns: Georgian Dream rhetoric on the EU”, “Georgia: Resilience in action” and “Georgia: The next colour revolution?”.
Read similar disinformation cases claiming that The EU is instigating protests among Georgia’s youth, that EU ambassador to Tbilisi is complicit in violence during popular protests, that The West wants to force a coup in Georgia, that The West is destroying Georgia, that The US and the EU are destabilising Transcaucasia, that Western intelligence services are planning a coup in Georgia, that West is using every means to destabilise Georgia, that US, EU, pro-Western opposition and president tried to carry out a coup in Georgia, or that The protests in Georgia are reminiscent of the 2014 coup in Ukraine engineered by the West.