DISINFO: Georgia started the aggression against Russia in 2008
DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS
Tags:
Abkhazia South Ossetia Russo-Georgian War

DISINFO: Georgia started the aggression against Russia in 2008

SUMMARY

Georgia attacked the republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and Russia was initially accused of initiating the war. In 2009, the International fact-finding mission into those events came to the conclusion that the Georgian authorities started the attack.

RESPONSE

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative trying to deny any role for Russia in the Russo-Georgian war, portraying it as a peacemaker and blaming Georgia and its political leadership for the war which resulted in the further occupation of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by additional military forces from Russia timed around the 13th anniversary of the conflict.

Georgia is a sovereign country attacked by Russia in 2008. Many international organisations condemned the further occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, see e.g. the CSCE statement here, the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia here and the European Parliament's declaration.

The EU's independent investigative commission into the 2008 Russia-Georgian war confirmed that Russia had been provoking Georgia for a long time and "Much of the Russian military action went far beyond the reasonable limits of defence."

Currently, Russia occupies 20% of Georgia's territory, about 13 years after the Russo-Georgian War, and continues to breach its international obligations by consolidating its control in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Russia continues its military presence in both Abkhazia and South Ossetia in violation of international law and commitments undertaken by Russia under the 12 August 2008 agreement, mediated by the European Union.

See similar claims that Georgia's military adventure was encouraged by Western partners, and that the US is using Georgia to fight Russia.

Embed

Related disinfo cases

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

    Your opinion matters!

    Data Protection Information *

      Subscribe to the Disinfo Review

      Your weekly update on pro-Kremlin disinformation

      Data Protection Information *

      The Disinformation Review is sent through Mailchimp.com. See Mailchimp’s privacy policy and find out more on how EEAS protects your personal data.