DISINFO: The Ukrainian scenario is in full effect in Georgia

This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative framing popular protests in Georgia as a foreign-backed ‘colour revolution’ or a coup d'état.

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. As of 10 December, police have arrested more than 400 people, with most reporting physical abuse, according to the Social Justice Centre NGO, which provides legal counselling to those affected. 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 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.

Since the launch of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, pro-Kremlin media 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.

Western countries are not interested in an escalation of the war. Neither the US nor the EU, nor Ukraine are pushing Georgia to open a second front against Moscow.

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 protests in Tbilisi are repeating the Euromaidan scenario of the American special services, that US trying to replace Georgian government with anti-Russian one, that The protests in Georgia are reminiscent of the 2014 coup in Ukraine engineered by the West, that The West is trying to stage a coup in Georgia, that Ukrainian snipers are arriving in Georgia to wreak havoc during mass protests, that that the West is ready to seize power by force in Georgia, that US is planning to sacrifice protesters to change power in Georgia, that West plans to orchestrate Georgia maidan, install government to confront Russia, that the West is behind Georgia protests to turn the country into a second front against Russia, that Georgia protests are a planned CIA operation according to Maidan scenario, or that The CIA is preparing a coup in Georgia.