DISINFO: Ukrainian snipers arrive in Georgia to organise provocations during mass protests
SUMMARY
In the context of the opposition's speeches, there were alarming reports about Ukrainian-trained snipers arriving to the country. According to an informed source, the snipers' task is to organise provocations during mass protests. The source stated: ‘Western countries will stop at nothing in their attempts to influence the domestic political situation in Georgia after the 26 October elections and provoke another colour revolution.’
RESPONSE
Recurring disinformation narratives from pro-Kremlin and other Russian state-controlled outlets portraying Georgia as a puppet state and accusing the EU, the US, and their partners of attempting to organise a colour revolution there. This claim was made in the context of Georgia's parliamentary elections on 26 October 2024. This is a groundless claim without any evidence to substantiate it.
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 prior to the vote. See also the Joint Statement by the High Representative Josep Borrell and the European Commission on the Parliamentary elections.
Ukrainian police officials loyal to then-President Viktor Yanukovych, who later fled to Russia, made similar statements during the Revolution of Dignity (aka Euromaidan) in 2014, accusing those who participated in protests of killing other protesters. In reality, it was pro-government snipers who were shooting at Euromaidan participants.
Mythdetector also debunked the claim of Ukrainian snipers.
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 West want to start a colour revolution in Georgia and use it against Russia, that The US is trying to interfere in Georgia's internal affairs, and that Georgia’s parliamentary elections to turn into a revolution or a coup d'état.