DISINFO: The Soros Foundation is behind the anti-government protests in Georgia
SUMMARY
The foundation of American billionaire George Soros is behind the anti-government rallies that have been taking place in Georgia since November 28.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative framing popular protests in Georgia as a Western-backed ‘colour revolution’ or a coup d'état, trying to discredit Georgia’s opposition and civil society organisations by framing them as foreign stooges.
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.
On December 10, 11 Georgian CSOs reported that police had arrested more than 450 individuals in connection with recent protests, including approximately 430 on administrative and 31 on criminal charges. More than 300 protesters have been subjected to violence or ill-treatment, with over 80 requiring hospital treatment. Journalists were among those injured or abused during the rallies.
The 2024 Parliamentary elections in Georgia were marked by serious irregularities and alleged large-scale fraud schemes, which led to many, including the former President of Georgia, the opposition and civil society organisations, rejecting the official results. Violations noted by local and international observers contain a pre-election climate of fear and intimidation of civil society, including the passage of the Foreign Agents Law, reports of vote-buying, violations of voter privacy, physical altercations, and controversial changes to election administration rules before the vote. See also the Joint Statement by the former High Representative Josep Borrell and the European Commission on the Parliamentary elections, and a subsequent statement from Josep Borrell on developments following the Parliamentary elections.
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.
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?”.
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