Journalists on Disinformation. Part 2: Georgia

Credible journalism is at the core of a democratic society. To celebrate the World Press Freedom Day, EUvsDisinfo publishes a series of articles, giving voice to independent journalism in the Eastern Partnership countries. Part 2. Georgia.

EUvsDisinfo has talked to five journalists in Georgia: Basti Mgaloblisvili and Sopo Aptsiauri of Publika; Keti Magradze formerly of Mtis Ambebi; Eka Kevanishvili of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and George Gogua, Editor-in-Chief of Mediachecker. The journalists are the winners of the EU Prize for Journalism 2020, conducted for nine consecutive years by the EU Delegation in Georgia: https://eu4georgia.eu/euprizeforjournalism/ – #EUprizeforjournalism. We are proud they agreed to participate in the World Press Freedom campaign.

Why Journalism?

Eka Kevanishvili

Storytelling is what journalism is about: observing people and telling their stories. These stories are often unpleasant, sad, hard to hear, or delicate, but that is exactly why I’ve been fascinated with storytelling for so many years.

Eka Kevanishvili of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

George Gogua

Simple and captivating storytelling is the most interesting part of journalism. It is most satisfying when you see how the narrative is built brick-by-brick and shaped into its final form.

Basti Mgaloblishvili

Being a journalist means having a constant connection with reality. Moving away from this reality may distort your perception of real problems and public interest.

Basti Mgaloblisvili of Publika

What is Disinformation’s Impact on Journalism?

Sopo Aptsiauri:

My family members unfortunately are not very familiar with the media environment and sometimes have difficulty distinguishing true and false information.

Keti Magradze:

Last year, one of the well-known media outlets published an article with photos of young Americans honouring a Lenin monument. Verification revealed that the photos were several years old and reflected a completely different story. In the comments section of the article I wrote that it was disinformation. Apparently, others have made similar comments because the outlet apologized for the article. In other cases, when an outlet constantly spread disinformation, I flagged and reported it on social media.

George Gogua, Editor-in-Chief of Mediachecker

George Gogua:

I often hear such stories, even from my parents who come across them on social media. In such cases, I always try to reveal the true essence of the story, but these are one-off solutions, while more work needs to be done to eliminate the problem itself.

Basti Mgaloblishvili:

Many people around me have experienced first-hand the devastating consequences of disinformation. I have had numerous arguments with people closest to me over misunderstandings caused by the false information.

Soon after the spread of the pandemic started, myths and conspiracy theories also emerged. So we compiled all those myths and involved a qualified specialist in the field to provide the public with information based on evidence and facts.

What Are the Dangers of Disinformation?

Basti Mgaloblishvili:

The most obvious example we see today is disinformation stirring up anti-vaxx sentiments in the society. This is directly linked to people’s health and life.

Keti Magradze:

We are already facing the harm. Many people around me did not believe in the current pandemic, so they were not careful and became infected. Some suffered from severe forms of the virus, while others died. These unfortunate cases convinced people that the threat of COVID 19 was real. Now they believe that if they are vaccinated, the jab will modify their DNA, they will get microchipped; their body will start decaying in three years, and so on.

Sopo Aptsiauri:

The biggest problem lies with the biased media outlets purposefully spreading various notions to shape certain malicious perceptions and attitudes. This, in a relatively long run, poses a great danger to the public consciousness.

Sopo Aptsiauri of Publika

Eka Kevanishvili:

The media, social networks and all digital platforms can become a source of disinformation. Disinformation can do anything – from insulting people to ruining or antagonizing them. Incorrect information (which is the same as having no information) can damage everything. For example, it can thwart a vaccination campaign or pit two ethnic groups against each other. Disinformation can even cause a war.

George Gogua:

Disinformation is very dangerous for one reason: it spreads easily and quickly. Consequently, fake news reaches and influences a wider audience. Especially when options for double-checking are limited and there is no access to relevant resources, most people easily fall victim to disinformation.

What is the Defence against Disinformation?

Basti Mgaloblishvili:

In the era of information warfare, it is important for the readers not to be passive recipients of information. They should always examine the news with a critical eye and have reliable sources to verify the accuracy of the facts.

Eka Kevanishvili:

Try to choose reliable media – this is probably the most effective way to protect yourself from disinformation. Alternatively, verify the story in few media outlets. And, most importantly, be doubtful and pose a question: could this be really true?

Sopo Aptsiauri:

Before receiving and especially sharing any information, it is very important to think what kind of information we get and from which sources. It is better to know in advance which the credible media outlets are and develop the habit of getting news only from them.

George Gogua:

I could share conventional advice: scrutinize source of information, verify the authenticity of the media that spreads the news, crosscheck with other sources, etc. but this won’t be enough. We cannot eliminate disinformation only by sharing such messages with the public. Eradication of disinformation requires development of media that will offer accurate and verified information to the public using simple language that is easy to understand. To put it simply, strong and credible media environment is the most effective way to combat disinformation.

Keti Magradze formerly of Mtis Ambebi

Keti Magradze:

To expose disinformation, I would advise the public to first check the source of information and examine organizations that the outlet cooperates with. During verification they will discover that disinformation spreaders are backed up by very suspicious organizations. In parallel, crosscheck information in other media outlets, those that uphold balance, where they can read or listen to the positions and arguments of opposing groups. This will make it easier for them to draw the right conclusions.

Next article in the series – Monday 10 May: Part 3: Armenia

Previous article: Part 1: Belarus

This article looks at the evolving information environment around the COVID-19 and vaccines roll-out in the Eastern Partnership countries and Russia during the month of February and into the first week of March 2021.

Every major public health crisis brings out rumours, conspiracies and intentionally spread disinformation on the origins of virus, the losers and the ultimate winners of the ensuing communications crisis. As the new normal sets-in and governments, media and health professionals catch-up with the public conversation, new narratives emerge. Something similar happened around COVID-19 crisis. Nearly one year ago, EUvsDisinfo reported how pro-Kremlin sources widely spread conspiracy narratives and disinformation directed at the audiences in the EU and the wider neighbourhood. Today, with COVID-19 virus surrendering its top attention spot to COVID-19 vaccines, we are here to inspect narratives and flag manipulations. The fight against the virus has equally become a fight to promote in particular the Sputnik V vaccine.

The prevailing narratives on vaccines roll-out identified in pro-Kremlin media messaging refer to Sputnik V vaccine as a great public good, efficient and safe to use and much in demand around the world. Russia is portrayed as helping other countries much more than other states and actors, claiming to be a frontrunner in ‘vaccine diplomacy’ [1].

Sputnik V home and abroad (home – how much?)

In Russia, the government is presented as being ahead of other countries in implementing its nationwide vaccination programme – despite no systematic statistics being made public by the authorities. However, statistics from Johns Hopkins University from early March found that less than 1 % of Russia’s population had received vaccination while the EU average then was 2.48 %. This lack of Russian official information is itself remarkable; – why withhold information if Sputnik V is such a success?

As Sputnik V is hailed, the pro-Kremlin media amplify the negative stories linked to roll-out of vaccines in the EU, creating the distorted and twisted image of the EU being incapable of managing COVID-19, with vaccination programmes ‘disrupted or at standstill’. The EU member states’ disagreements, threats to restrict vaccine exports to countries outside the EU and criticism of the European Commission President are all highlighted. Disputes between the EU and AstraZeneca, as well as between the EU and the UK and anti-lockdown protests in cities across the continent feature prominently.

Targeting the West: Pro-Kremlin media is amplifying disinformation narratives about COVID-19 and vaccines

“Blame the EU!” (a classic)

The EU institutions are blamed for their alleged opposition to the Russian vaccine, or even fear of its success, and hesitancy in providing Sputnik V marketing authorisation across the EU. Pro-Kremlin media, across different languages and platforms, allege the change in attitude of the EU towards Sputnik V, from scepticism to one of praise. Narratives emphasise a feeling of Sputnik V victory over ‘the sceptical West’ while at the same trying to manipulate audiences into believing that the EU only acted with delay and when public pressure mounted and was weak. Or EU is presented as in a dilemma; how to buy from Russia while sanctions are in place?’ The news of European Medicines Agency (EMA) starting a rolling review on Sputnik V in early March was echoed across all Russian and pro-Kremlin affiliated media outlets with a victorious tone.

Amplification of negative content or outright disinformation about Western-produced COVID-19 vaccines, particularly the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, remain prominent, with pro-Kremlin media outlets magnifying alleged side effects and alleging that people are dying in substantial numbers after being vaccinated. Months-old horror stories of casualties ostensibly caused by vaccination are presented in reports to illustrate allegedly flawed and dangerous vaccines. Pfizer is condemned for skipping key stages in their trials (even if it was widely reported Sputnik V in fact did precisely that), conduct deadly testing and launch vaccines not proof and ready, Pfizer and Moderna for lacking in transparency while in contrast, the benefits of the Russian vaccine stem from the state’s ownership of the company/vaccine. According to recent opinion polls, vaccines hesitancy in Russia has increased from a stable 50% to over 62% of Russians, who are not ready to take vaccines by the beginning of March.

Vaccine hesitancy measured in Russia. Source: Levada-Center, 01 March 2021

Less conspiracy now – but a lot of hesitancy

Conspiracy theories promoting vaccines hesitancy have largely faded in the Russian state-financed and controlled outlets since the emergence of Sputnik V as a viable vaccine candidate. Nevertheless, some of the public pages of the social media platform VKontakte are still spreading COVID-19 conspiracies disinformation on Western vaccines producers. Examples include stories formulated like: ‘Bill Gates inventing the coronavirus‘ and ‘The vaccine being used to control the population it is an excuse for Big Pharma to make money, and they cause sickness and infertility’; ‘Influential global players are behind the ban on fakes about coronavirus‘.

In the Eastern Partnership countries (EaP), Russian state financed and/or controlled media outlets operating in local languages offer very similar narratives to those seen in Russian domestic media. The RT (formerly ‘Russia Today’ TV) with the fellow news agency ‘Sputnik’ and its different language versions are active as this overview of our database on EUvsDisinfo illustrates [2].

There is a substantial vaccine-scepticism / hesitancy across most EaP countries, ranging from 30% to over 50% of total population according to different national studies carried out over the last couple of months. People fear vaccines’ side effects and often lack publicly available advice from trusted health professionals. EaP governments’ communication on the vaccines roll-out remains diverse: some countries are better than others in communicating and engaging with public by providing health advice and countering conspiracies. A challenge common to all is a relative public lack of trust in state institutions, which may translate into doubts about vaccines efficiency. Small-scale or pending public information campaigns leave space for vaccines scepticism and rumours. Pre-bunking and debunking false and harmful narratives remain important.

Vaccine hesitancy measured in Russia. Source: Levada-Center, 01 March 2021

Across the Eastern Partnership countries

In Armenia, it was decided to purchase AstraZeneca via the COVAX Facility and also buy Sputnik V. Russia donated Sputnik vaccines for the first 1020 persons. The Armenian information environment and public discourse continue to be dominated by the consequences of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and internal political situation, COVID-19 vaccination plays a less prominent role. Misinformation about vaccines has a small presence in the general media. Over the past months, the disinformation cases regarding vaccines were observed, mirroring the Russian narratives via several outlets such as livenews.am and the Russian State news agency Sputnik’s Armenian version. Disinformation narratives varies from spreading fear for vaccines, for example: ’People can risk their lives by getting vaccinated, but not get guaranteed protection and they can be contagious’; ‘The first stage of the artificially created new coronavirus (SARS-COV 2) is a murder of the population‘.

In Azerbaijan, the authorities exercise tight control on media. Disinformation on vaccines is less prominent, but vaccine hesitancy continues to be an issue with almost 50% of respondents in recent surveys not supporting the vaccination or being hesitant (apa.tv; in the Red Microphone channel and Radio Liberty). People hesitate to be vaccinated mainly because of a lack of information or fear of side effects. The Sputnik Azerbaijani (Sputnik.az), mirror the official Russian narratives as described above incl. disinformation and alleged risks linked to Western-produced vaccines. This compounds the challenges for the government’s information effort – once it gets underway. Harmful narratives about Western vaccines gained further momentum after COVAX informed Azerbaijani authorities about delays in vaccine deliveries, with President Ilham Aliyev himself accusing developed nations of unequal and unfair distribution of vaccines – accusations that were widely covered in Azerbaijani media.

In Belarus, the authorities have downplayed the risks of COVID-19, most likely underdiagnosing and under-reporting the incidence and death tolls. The authorities have not published general mortality data since June 2020 (which raises questions why). The real COVID-19 death toll, as assessed by independent experts and observers, may be 10 to 15 times the official numbers. On 9 March 2021, Kastryčnicki Economic Forum was able to calculate based on official average per capita income statistics and consumption that in 2020 the average annual population in Belarus decreased by 47,800 persons, comparing to the decreases of 14,700 in 2018 and 17,800 in 2019. Depending on the small contribution from emigration and other factors, this suggest about 30,000 “excessive” deaths in 2020.

Vaccination on any considerable scale is yet to be launched in the country of 9.4 million. No surveys or polling data are publicly available on the overall readiness to undergo vaccination. So far, only two dozen thousand doses of Russia’s Sputnik and an unknown number of China’s Vero Cell are reported to have been administered. Anecdotal evidence suggests that trust in the available vaccines is low even among medics and that Belarusians are sceptical about the authorities’ announcements regarding their plans for mass vaccination.

In Georgia, vaccine mis-/disinformation has a significant impact and is spread most prominently via social media networks, especially on Facebook where anti-vax groups generate large volume of disinformation posts. Several ultra-right and Kremlin-affiliated media outlets also spread vaccine disinformation and conspiracies regularly. The Russian State news agency Sputnik continues to use its channels in Georgia to mirror pro-Kremlin messages [2]. Other pro-Kremlin media, especially NewsFront Georgia, Geworld.ge, Saqinform.ge and Tvalsazrisi.ge, Alt-Info.com contribute to false claims regarding Western-developed vaccines, particularly targeting Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine (and more recently AstraZeneca). Government communication focussed on press conferences by the Health Minister and not so much attention has addressed false claims or disinformation to COVID-19, though a public information campaign on vaccines roll-out began recently. The information video on the new vaccination strategy warns the people about vaccine disinformation and urges them to seek factual information from trusted sources.

In Moldova, disinformation and conspiracy theories about vaccines are promoted by marginal websites, often with strong anti-vaxxer stances or religious content. The pro-Kremlin media, including Sputnik.md in Romanian, Mejdurecie.md praise the Russian vaccine and Western vaccines and their producers are criticised. The focus of pro-Kremlin media rests on the EU’s mismanagement of its vaccination programme, contrasting this to Russia’s success. The EU is presented as failing to manage vaccination and gradually accepting Russia’s achievements and vaccine. Headlines include phrased like: ‘COVID-19 being created in laboratories’ ; ‘Old people fell like flies: hundreds of deaths from vaccines in EU and US’. Sputnik: ‘AstraZeneca vaccine, also used in Romania, has an effectiveness of only 10 %’. Further stories include: ‘Israel establishes Nazi-medical regime’; ‘28-year-old nurse from Wisconsin died of a brain aneurysm five days after a second dose of Pfizer (Flux.md).

Ukraine continues to be the prime target of heavy criticism from both the Russian state-controlled media and the local pro-Kremlin media for choosing not to authorise use of Sputnik V. According to the pro-Kremlin narrative promoted by NTV: ‘by orders from the US embassy, which forbid Ukraine to use the Russian vaccine’ thus jeopardising Ukrainians’ lives or by RT: ‘Ukraine rejects Russian vaccine for political reasons. Disinformation campaigns to ridicule and denigrate the Ukrainian leadership continue, also using vaccines rollout to criticise President Zelenskyy. Russian and pro-Kremlin media use Facebook and Telegram channels to amplify its messaging.

Source: The Presidential Office of Ukraine

A strong public information and communications campaign on vaccines is in progress also to address disinformation. Government encourages nationwide vaccination with public support from top leadership of the country. However, a cautious public attitude towards vaccination stems from general dissatisfaction in the handling of the COVID-19 crisis and overall disappointment with the authorities, according to UNIAN.

Post Scriptum: After this article was prepared for publishing, reports and questions regarding side effects for the AstraZeneca vaccine developed and spread quickly. The discussions among health professional and political leaders in the EU Member States, as well as the EMA’s information of 18 March, was also picked up by Russian State controlled and/or financed outlets which used the opportunity to amplify existing deceptive narratives: to highlight insecurity around AstraZeneca, the alleged failure of EU’s COVID-19 handling, the success of Sputnik V. All of this in turn is affecting the public debate on vaccination (examples from recent Russian main state TV here or here).

Finally, as the ‘vaccine diplomacy race’ continues, it is remarkable that President Putin’s personal vaccination, reported this week, was not made into a public display. Usually Putin is not shy on promoting himself horseback riding, diving, flying, fishing etc. When Ukrainian President Zelenskyy was vaccinated three weeks ago in front of cameras at a military hospital near Luhansk, pro-Kremlin outlets were quick casting doubt: – wasn’t it just a shot of vitamins? And now, while the Russian authorities have launched a determined public information campaign using all platforms with famous faces to encourage vaccination amid the serious domestic vaccine hesitancy. Who would have been a better role model than the Head of State?

[1] For comparison: on 7 March, 46 countries had approved Sputnik V under one or another form. AstraZeneca’s was approved in 49, and Pfizer/BioNTech’s in 43 countries.

[2] Examples from different EaP countries:

Armenia: Russia is successful while Europe has failed to cope with the pandemic (Sputnik Armenia).

Moldova: ‘AstraZeneca vaccine has an effectiveness of only 10 %’ (Sputnik Moldova).

Georgia: ‘Pfizer tested an antibiotic on minors in Nigeria leaving about 200 people dead’ and ‘Pfizer has practically no experience in developing vaccines, but is associated with some large scandals’ (both from Sputnik Abkhazia);

Azerbaijan: ‘Because of shortage of the vaccines in Europe, the countries are on the edge of the vaccine war’ (Sputnik Azerbaijan).

This text was updated on April 1, 2021.

A short guide to communicating with someone who believes in anti-vaccine conspiracy theories.

“Vaccines are very important and not scary at all. Done in a flash!” a marabou bird reassures a vaccine-hesitant (and terrified!) hippo in a 1966 Soviet cartoon. More than 50 years later, amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines are as important as ever, but the messages carried by pro-Kremlin media are less reassuring.

Throughout the pandemic, unfounded claims about vaccines originating from the darkest corners of the Internet, such as “Bill Gates will use vaccines to microchip humanity”, have found new momentum in pro-Kremlin disinformation outlets. All sorts of misleading health information continues to make the rounds on social media, causing confusion and further aggravating the health crisis.

Many would find claims about Microsoft “microchips” in vaccines simply absurd. But what about those who don’t? How do you actually talk to someone who embraces vaccine-related conspiracy theories they encounter online?

Here are a few tips that may be helpful:

If you come across disinformation or conspiracy theories about vaccines on social media, a good rule of thumb is to report such posts to the platforms, as they are likely to go against their policies. Engaging with such content (even by leaving a negative comment) may only help it spread further.

What if this person who believes in and shares misleading claims and outright conspiracy theories about vaccines is someone close to you – a friend, a loved-one, a neighbour? Assertions that the Pope demands his followers to get vaccinated as a service to global pharmaceutical companies might seem ridiculous, but mocking, shaming or getting angry at someone who is actually concerned about it can be counter-productive.

Regardless of educational background, people can have hesitations and fears which may stem from valid concerns about vaccine safety and efficiency. Approaching others with respect and willingness to listen is key to having a meaningful and impactful conversation.

It is well documented by academic research that we tend to make up our minds about vaccines based not only on scientific facts or medical arguments but also on social, cultural, economic and political factors, on personal experiences and on moral convictions. In short, the reasons for believing unfounded claims about vaccines go far beyond a simple lack of knowledge.

A 2017 study in Nature Human Behaviour found statistically significant relations between vaccine hesitancy and moral values in two large groups of American parents. People who were highly vaccine-hesitant were influenced by beliefs that vaccines would pollute the “pure” bodies of their children. They also believed that governments should not “control” individual behaviour.

Disinformation actors understand quite well how to abuse and exploit such beliefs. Unfounded claims on social media alleging that vaccines can modify human DNA or that they are tainted with HIV, malaria or “5G particles” appeal to emotions rather than facts. Such claims tap into deeply held beliefs about the need to protect our bodies (and those of our children) from anything that is “unnatural”, “dirty” or “dangerous”, portraying vaccines exactly as such.

In a similar manner, claims that COVID-19 vaccines will be used as a pretext to “microchip” and control humanity aim to exploit our feelings about liberty and individual autonomy (after all, vaccination policies evoke elements of collectivism).

Realising that one’s moral beliefs might be manipulated is a difficult and unpleasant process. Try to encourage critical self-reflection by asking questions about anxieties and fears related to vaccines. And be prepared to listen without judgement.

People who hesitate about vaccines probably do not want to intentionally harm themselves or their loved ones. As one parent put it succinctly during her TED talk, when it comes to vaccines most parents are “utterly terrified of doing the wrong thing”.

In a sense, vaccines are a victim of their success. We read about diseases such as smallpox in history books rather than on news websites, precisely because vaccines helped eradicate them. But that also makes the risk (however small) of potential vaccine side-effects more “real” than the threat of a disease itself.

Could that be a case with your loved one/friend/neighbour? Are they afraid of a vaccine more than of a disease just because the latter seems like a more distant threat? Keep in mind that some disinformation actors, including pro-Kremlin media and their proxies, have spread claims that fuel exactly these sentiments, for example by alleging that the coronavirus crisis was manufactured by the media or by “Big Pharma” to pursue business interests.

Establishing some common ground over the (hopefully) shared need to make the best decision regarding one’s health opens an opportunity for dialogue. Avoid having a “series of rebuttals” which can lead to antagonism and anger. Try to relate on an emotional and personal level. Why is it important to you that they do “the right thing” when it comes to vaccines? Admitting that you are worried about their well-being could be a powerful stimulus for them to reconsider their views. Personal stories telling why you are confident about vaccines (and you can read more about safeguards on vaccine safety) can often be more convincing than abstract reasoning. It is important to do so as the mere exposure to a conspiracy theory may have adverse consequences, even among people who don’t subscribe to the conspiracy theory.

Recently, the Atlantic Council highlighted research which found that anti-vaccination clusters online employ more diverse narratives than pro-vaccination clusters. To put it simply: anti-vaccination claims are rarely just about vaccines. They engage in broader topics related to (alternative) health and general well-being. As such, they cast a wider net than traditional vaccine-advocacy stories centred on scientific data and communication from health agencies.

For example, a Facebook page devoted to “alternative” medicine and targeting Ukrainians makes a series of claims linking coronavirus vaccines with “dangerous” nanoparticles and 5G technologies. The same page also advocates the wonders of Ayurveda medicine and the benefits of coffee for cancer patients.

This is not to say that coffee and Ayurveda are necessarily harmful, but people following such topics on social media may unwittingly be exposing themselves to misleading and harmful information about vaccines. Furthermore, if more people believe certain ideas to be true, we are also more likely to accept them as such. That is why your presence in conspiracy theory and disinformation bubbles helps those views become entrenched in our own thinking.

If your loved one or friend is in a similar “alternative” bubble, encourage them to follow pages and people sharing interesting and reliable, fact-based content. Connecting with scientists, academics, independent media, fact-checkers and similar communities is a good way to build immunity to disinformation online, including about vaccines.

People who embrace conspiracy theories often consider themselves critical thinkers. It is no coincidence that the flagship pro-Kremlin disinformation outlet, RT, calls on its audiences to “question more”.

But as this helpful article on BBC points out, the spirit of doubt is actually a key opening for rational thought. The aim is not to make the other person less curious or sceptical but to change what they are curious or sceptical about. And start asking questions.

Conspiracy theories tend to portray complex realities in broad and sweeping strokes, explaining “everything” and providing answers to all possible questions at once. As sociologist John Gagnon has argued, “the difference between a scientific theory and a conspiracy theory is that a scientific theory has holes in it”. At the times of the global pandemic, the “know-it-all” certainty offered by conspiracy theories can become a source of relief from everyday anxieties. Consider whether the other person might be turning to dubious sources to satisfy their need to know.

Besides, disinformation is used not only for political but also for commercial purposes. According to the Global Disinformation Index, a quarter billion dollars is paid annually to thousands of disinformation sites by ad tech companies placing adverts for many well-known brands. Websites advocating “alternative” health remedies instead of vaccines frequently carry ads for dubious food supplements, trying to get direct financial gain from their visitors. Followers of social media can also be “monetised” by disinformation actors, or used for reputational gains.

Try asking the other person whose voices on health and vaccines he or she chooses to trust and why. Encourage them to reflect on how they seek and assess information, including thinking about the motives of those who share anti-vaccination messages.

If you follow these steps, you may able to have a constructive conversation and eventually lead your friend or a loved-one out of a conspiracy rabbit-hole. But do not expect quick results.

Our views and feelings about health and well-being are deeply personal and complex, and unlikely to change overnight. Besides, as Mark Lorch, a professor of Communication and Chemistry at the University of Hull, points out, new evidence creates inconsistencies in our views, which can cause emotional discomfort. So if you press too much, there is a risk that the other person will come up with justifications and actually strengthen his or her views, despite the evidence against it.

By showing compassion to the other person, even if you stand firmly against conspiracy theories, you can already make a difference in the complicated and anxious atmosphere fostered by the global pandemic.

And if you succeed, you can always show your friend, loved-one or neighbour the cartoon hippo. Remember, vaccines are very important and not scary at all!

Seen from Kremlin the Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V has developed into an ideological offensive with a ferocity a bit like a ‘Cold War’ on words.

Russian COVID-19 vaccine disinformation and Eastern Partnership countries

The trends in what has been dubbed ‘vaccine diplomacy’ campaign in our recent Special Report are aggravating. Kremlin is busy leveraging diplomatic channels, state-controlled media and networks of supportive and alternative media outlets to support its narrative of Sputnik V vaccine supremacy.

Since New Year, the tone and media landscape have hardened considerably. Promotion of the Sputnik V vaccine is not enough. A simultaneous massive, vulgar and misleading demotion of other vaccines, especially Western like Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca now roll like wall-to-wall banner streams. The campaign against Pfizer/BioNTech is fuelled by half-truths and insinuations.

At the same time, any critique pointing to the lack of trial results and transparency in deploying Sputnik V is dismissed as Russophobic reaction and portrayed as a Western waged “vaccine war”. This only makes sense if the overall attitude to the vaccines roll-out is that of racing cars competition, instead of a cautious and verified certification.

Noteworthy is also the silence on China’s vaccines. In comparison with other policy areas, where Russia openly promotes her relations with China, it seems like Chinese vaccine brands like Sinovac or Sinopharm are kept out of the picture.

It is not just about pharmaceutical products

For the pro-Kremlin media the early 2021 has already brought what it lacked last year: a full-blown offensive with a ferocity smelling a bit like a Cold War and ideological competition. And with that the trench-digging, narrow- or blind-eye approach to one own situation which often accompany it.

It is a one-sided offensive. Noteworthy is that this rhetoric is drummed up in the pro-Kremlin outlets and broadcast globally while a ‘mirror’-rhetoric is not -returned from governments in countries of the big Covid-vaccine producer companies (US, Germany, UK, etc.)

The ‘battleground’ has heated up especially in countries of the Eastern Partnership: Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and Armenia offer easily accessible media markets. To a lesser extent in Azerbaijan and Belarus, where tougher media control by local governments set limits.

The key players are Russian state owned media, such as TV channel Rossiya 1, Rossiya-24, state news agency RIA Novosti and the multimedia platform Sputnik; the main vehicle to reach out to foreign language groups; broadcasting in 20+ languages. Social media platforms are also engaged with vigour like when RIA Novosti introduced the tag “Pfizer, Inc.” to promote the dangers of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. The negative stories increased in number and intensity along the lines documented in November Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines.

Put on short form the Pro-Kremlin narratives are:

-“The Sputnik V vaccine is the first, it’s fully effective and with no side effects. “

-“Sputnik V is a global success. Many countries around the world are buying or interested in Sputnik V, including the US and EU member states.”

-“The West (US and EU) are pressuring governments around the world not to buy or use Sputnik V”

– “The situation in Europe is damaged by lockdowns, hampered by EU bureaucracy and slow national vaccination programmes.”

Don’t be a traitor!

In Russia the discussion on side effects of the Sputnik V vaccine or the speed in roll-out of the Russian national vaccination program was present on mainstream media last year. However, any criticism of the roll-out was limited to smaller opposition platforms like Novaya Gazeta or appearing in media outside Russia, like in Riga-based Meduza.

Since New Year, the discussion is becoming a kind of ideological markers. For-or-against the system and the authorities. Not to the extent that is a for-or-against Putin, since his approval ratings and that of Sputnik V / vaccine scepticism do not correlate. There is considerable scepticism among the Russian public towards vaccinations, with opinion polls suggesting up to 60% of people don’t want to get vaccinated.

Meanwhile, a look across the Eastern Partnership countries…

Across the Eastern Partnership countries, pro-Kremlin disinformation outlets tend to duplicate same narratives as in the main Russian media, but with some country-by-country variations. The two most prominent narratives promote the safety and efficiency of the Sputnik V vaccine, while denigrating the safety and efficiency of Western vaccines, in particular the Pfizer/BioNTech.

In Ukraine

Pro-Kremlin media focus on three main themes: – the efficiency and safety of the Sputnik V; – the alleged danger of Western-made vaccines, particularly Pfizer/ BioNTech and – the ‘genocide’ which the Ukrainian government is committing against its own population by refusing to use the Sputnik V vaccine offered by Russia (NewsOne, 29 Dec).

Further, the claim is reinforced by conspiracy theory that the United States is forcing Kyiv to vaccinate Ukrainians with American vaccine and forbids the purchase of Russian vaccines (Strana.ua, 17 Oct, 112, 27 Dec)

The spin has been put on local testing where the American vaccine in Ukraine will be tested on army men serving in Donbass and the elderly creating the image of them as doomed guinea-pigs: Western vaccine is dangerous, people die.

Georgia

Like elsewhere, most pro-Kremlin media about vaccines in Georgia replicate the alleged dangers of Western-made vaccines, in particular the Pfizer/BioNTech, while playing up the safety and efficacy of the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine. More conspiratorial narratives claim the Pfizer vaccine alters human DNA. Local actors are spreading such narratives. The EU is presented as using disinformation to maliciously attack the Sputnik V vaccine.

Moldova

Most pro-Kremlin disinformation focusses on promoting the safety and efficacy of the Sputnik V vaccine while disparaging the safety of Western vaccines, in articles particular against the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. Other disinformation spreads anti-vaccine conspiracy theories. When the EU is mentioned, disinformation actors present it as preparing ‘registers’ (vaccination passports) of those who refuse vaccine while citizens are sceptical. A few articles have accused the EU of launching an ‘information war’ against the Sputnik V vaccine in order to defend Western pharmaceutical companies.

Belarus

Conspiracy theories and anti-vaccine sentiment tend to be minimal mainly because of strict government censorship.

Pro-Kremlin media outlets in Belarus strictly follow complementary narratives that, first, promote the safety and efficacy of Russian-made vaccines and, second, call into question the safety and efficacy of Western-made vaccines. This adds to the image of imminent collapse of Western order (Jan 7, Sputnik Belarus).

The Covid-19 pandemic shows absolutely helpless and divided EU, while Russian vaccine is much better than EU’s analogues. Instead of effectively coping the pandemic, the EU turned into a totalitarian empire (3 December 2020, Imhoclub.by) (30 November 2020, Baltnews).

Anti-EU narratives tend to focus on the success of China and Russia in vaccinating their populations and the relative incompetence of the EU countries in doing so.

Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijani government exercises tight control over the media environment and anti-vaccine conspiracy theories are not prominent. Disinformation tends to come from the local version of the Russian Sputnik channel – Sputnik.az – and other more marginal sources. Narratives tend to mirror those in other outlets: promoting the Sputnik V vaccine and denigrating Western vaccines.

The Azerbaijan government has announced it will use the Chinese CoronaVac vaccine from Sinovac company, importing four million doses of which a small amount has been delivered to Azerbaijan (Apa.az, 16 January).

So, for the time being that places Baku outside the immediate zone of Moscow’s offensive for Sputnik V.

Greetings from Tbilisi!

This week the Disinformation Review comes to you straight from Georgia, the land of ancient traditions, home of the “first Europeans”, site of unique modern architecture, and a favourite target of pro-Kremlin disinformation.

EUvsDisinfo has exposed over 300 cases of pro-Kremlin disinformation explicitly targeting Georgia. That is close to 5% of all the cases we have collected since 2015. But the numbers do not reflect the fervour with which Georgia is attacked. It has been repeatedly labelled a site of gruesome biological experiments, portrayed as a helpless victim of Western geopolitical engineering, and accused of spreading all kinds of nastiness – from intestinal infections to poison and Russophobia (don’t forget to read our article about the Lugar Lab!)

All these examples are just symptoms of the disinformation virus that is spread by the pro-Kremlin media to attack Georgia’s democracy, territorial integrity, and its transatlantic and European course.

The majority of Georgia-related pro-Kremlin disinformation cases in the EUvsDisinfo database target Georgia’s relations with the EU and NATO. But recently we have observed a distinct disinformation outbreak targeting the EU Monitoring Mission to Georgia.

Pro-Kremlin media outlets in the break-away Georgian region of South Ossetia, where Russia continues its military presence in violation of international law, have been accusing EU observers of provocations, border violations, encouragement of destructive activities, and portraying them as an element that can provoke Tskhinvali’s ‘”inadequate behaviour”.

This is concentrated effort to discredit and damage the reputation of the mission, which has been contributing to the stability of the region since 2008. It shows the classical symptoms of “провокация” [provokatsiya] syndrome. Affected by the syndrome, pro-Kremlin media start accusing others of provocations – i.e., conspiring against Russia – and portraying the Kremlin (and its minions) as noble victims of others’ evil schemes. For reference, see these classic examples: “NATO provokes Russia in the Black Sea region” and “protests in Georgia are a Russophobic provocation“.

As Georgia and the EU continue to enjoy an excellent relationship, the pro-Kremlin media try to reach new levels of excellence in disinforming Georgians about the EU.

The disinformation outlets attempt to undermine the EU in the eyes of Georgians by portraying it as an existential threat to traditional values. In one especially acute case of disinformation delusion, they went as far as to suggest that European liberals will come to Georgian families and take children away from their parents. At the same time, the pro-Kremlin media insist that Georgian culture was dearly protected under the USSR.

These are the symptoms of the pro-Kremlin disinformation fever: present Europe as a malady and Russia as salvation. Thus, Georgians are told that their country does not benefit from free trade with the EU so should return to Russia, when in fact the EU is Georgia’s largest trading partner. They are bombarded with alarmist disinformation messages linking visa-liberalisation to increased threats of terrorism and a mass influx of Syrian refugees, even though more than 300 thousand Georgian citizens have already benefited from the visa-free regime.

In every way possible, pro-Kremlin disinformation aims to discourage closer EU-Georgia relations, with the same underlying disinformation message: Georgia can only be saved by Russia. And this indicates a dangerous diagnosis: the pro-Kremlin media suffers from imperial intoxication.

Like most “infektions“, the disinformation virus spreads easily across borders (and languages). Pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about Europe suffocating under the onslaught of migration work in Georgian as well as in Belarusian, Armenian, Czech, and even Arabic.

One can paint George Soros as the destroyer of nations and cultures in at least 9 different languages, including Georgian. In the same manner, the EU Eastern Partnership can be presented as a Russophobic project to Ukrainian, Armenian, Belarusian, and German audiences.

So how does one curb the international disinformation contagion?

Georgia has its own prescription: the government, activists, and media have started vaccinating society against disinformation.

Georgian media and civil society organizations are working to ensure that the whole society – from students to farmers in remote mountain regions – have access to factual and accurate information about Europe and their own country. Often that leads to close cooperation with teachers, priests, and other community leaders whose voices are louder than the disinformation noise. Meanwhile, Georgian myth-detectors and other fact-checkers continue to fight disinformation with facts and enhanced media literacy.

And while there is no quick remedy for the disinformation contagion, Georgians, like most of us, know that prevention is the best medicine.

Take a look below at other cases uncovered this week!

Measles and swine flu epidemics, bioweapons, lethal experiments on people… – Georgian Lugar Lab has been subject of a massive disinformation campaign. What makes pro-Kremlin actors so eager to use one laboratory to spread so many infectious messages?

A very well-known piece of wisdom of all media in the world is: keep your stories close to the people, and you will keep it interesting. For most of us, regardless of our status or the place we live in, stories that keep us interested refer to health and safety of our loved ones and ourselves; and with issues touching our personal sphere, it’s difficult not to mix the rational arguments with an emotional perspective.

This is why stories about children saved from a fire or an epidemic, even in regions far away, get the most clicks, views and shares. This is also one of the reasons why the discussion around vaccines is so heated and thoroughly covered by the media – because directly or indirectly, it concerns us all. Disinforming outlets know this very well, too, and are trying to exploit the emotions hidden behind these stories to push their own narratives. And this is where a story of a disinformation attack on the Lugar Lab begins.

Have you ever heard of Lugar Lab? Its official name is the Central Public Health Reference Laboratory. It was opened in 2011 in Tbilisi, in partnership between Georgia and the US, with the latter financing the construction of the lab. The unofficial name comes from Richard Lugar, US senator involved in this project. The lab’s aim is to detect dangerous infectious diseases in human beings and animals; to conduct epidemiological research; and to combat the global spread of diseases.

But what does that have to do with disinformation? A lot. It’s been years since pro-Kremlin outlets have started their campaign against this laboratory, by using one of the most universal human emotions – fear.

A look at narratives around the Lugar Lab says a lot about the tactics of the disinformation machinery. Some messages focus on personal concerns; others are reporting from the global politics angle. To top all that, conspiracy theories are heavily exploited too. Moreover, different narratives are emphasized for Georgian-speaking and Russian-speaking audiences, uncovering how pro-Kremlin outlets are trying to tailor their messages, picking what may be the most suitable.

Getting personal in Georgia

In the period between 1 January and 31 October 2019 in four Georgian-speaking outlets with previous record of spreading pro-Kremlin disinformation (Sputnik Georgia (in Georgian); Georgia and the World; Alia and Saqinform), we found 23 articles devoted to the Lugar Lab.

Not all of them comprised disinformation. The ones that did were mostly human interest stories. They claimed, for example, that in the residential area around the Lugar Lab a higher number of oncological diseases was recorded. A few persons were shown by the media – the same ones in different footages – complaining about health conditions in the vicinity.

Were this case not scary enough, then a more universal threat was served in another popular message: H1N1 (swine flu) virus, measles and other diseases were allegedly spread by the Lugar Lab. This could make more Georgian-speakers afraid of being infected, as the viruses know no borders and can spread faster than disinformation messages. The personnel of the lab became infected too, but Georgian authorities covered it up, Alia and Georgia and the Word claimed.

But where did all those viruses come from? Most probably, the US, Georgian readers ‘’found out’’ from pro-Kremlin outlets. Apparently, the US planted them in the Lugar Lab in an attempt use them as biological warfare; and given the proximity of the lab to the Tbilisi airport, they may as well be transporting bombs through this channel, while they were at it.

Beyond the scope of the four examined outlets, the sensitive issue of vaccination was also used to push pro-Kremlin agenda; the claim in one of the articles said that the vaccines in Georgia must come from the Lugar Lab, hence they can’t be trusted. The solution would be to use Russian vaccines or not get vaccinated at all.

These narratives were not supported by any evidence, data or official statements. But it didn’t stop Facebook users from commenting and sharing them; one of the articles with the biggest numbers of interactions (1959) was the story of swine flu being spread only in the lab’s vicinity.

Talking geopolitics in Russian

Figures for the Georgian readership of these stories are not substantial, and it doesn’t seem to be the biggest battlefield for pro-Kremlin disinformation. The cannons are put to work in the Russian-speaking (dis)information sphere. In the same period between 1 January and 31 October 2019 we found 489 articles on 115 websites devoted to the Lugar Lab in Russian language. Over 80% of them were the websites of the disinformation outlets recorded in the EUvsDisinfo database (such as RIA FAN, Eurasia Daily, Tsargrad TV, Sputnik Georgia (in Russian), Sputnik Armenia (in Russian), among others).

Similarly to the content in Georgian, a few of the common narratives in Russian were playing on the human fear and health concerns, accusing the Lugar Lab of spreading swine flu, measles and other infectious diseases. Messages about the US’s involvement in the whole undertaking of infecting Georgians and neighbouring nations as well as bringing bioweapons to Georgia were also present and made it to the top ten of most common narratives this year.

One overarching disinformation narrative – “Russia encircled by the evil West” – was tailored solely to the Russian-speaking audience. Russia’s fear of the Lugar Lab and its mysterious activities is justified, this narrative said, as there are many American labs across the world, including at Russia’s borders, and nobody but the US has control over them. They may as well producebioweapons, regular weapons and viruses there, and experiment on people who end up dying (that’s another narrative in the top ten narratives). And neither official declarations about the lab’s mission nor the alleged openness of the lab to foreign visitors can convince pro-Kremlin media that it is otherwise.

And to top all that, conspiracy theories were an opportunity not to be missed in this regard; and so, the Russian-speaking readers could “find out” that the Slavs are used as laboratory mice, subject to lethal experiments and, possibly, extermination. Those carrying about the nature and the planet could choose between narratives about brown stink bugs, GMO mosquitos and flying cockroaches, created by the Lugar Lab to destroy agriculture and contaminate food.

Questioning political choices

It’s fascinating how just one laboratory can be used by the disinformation machinery to support pro-Kremlin agenda in so many ways, from health threats to questioning Georgia’s relations with the West. But even the most creative minds are getting exhausted. This year’s Lugar Lab stories are not new; they have appeared in pro-Kremlin media before and were met with a firm reaction. Georgian fact checkers community, including FactCheck and Myth Detector, has been following the evolution of narratives around the Lugar Lab and confronting false messages with facts. It is also thanks to them that we saw the most twisted attempts at using the Lugar Lab conspiracy theories to spread other narratives on the Kremlin’s agenda, such as the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, and to push it to the international information space.

What is behind pro-Kremlin outlets’ effort to make up convincingly scary (though not scarily convincing) narratives? The overall aim to question Georgian statehood and sovereignty, as well as its Western aspirations. It may seem like a far-fetched strategy, but under heavy disinformation campaign, the path from being concerned of your health to distrusting public institutions, from looking at the facts to thinking with emotions, may get really short. But the facts are there, available now, for everyone. And so is the story of manipulation.

We used CrowdTangle and BrandWatch to gather data from the social media platforms.