Disinfo: Russo-Georgian War was provoked by foreign special services

Summary

Why do you think no one can still state with 100% accuracy who started the war in August 2008? Because in reality no one knows who fired first, and there is a reasonable assumption that this was done by foreign special services and then uncontrolled processes began.

Disproof

Unfounded pro-Kremlin disinformation trying to deny any Russian responsibility for the Russo-Georgian war, portraying Russia as a peacemaker and blaming the West for the war which resulted in the further occupation of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by additional military forces from Russia.

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, 14 years after the Russo-Georgian War, and continues to breach its international obligations by consolidating its control in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

See related disinformation claims here.

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geworld.ge (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 272
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 16/02/2022
  • Article language(s) Georgian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Georgia, Russia
  • Keywords: Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Russo-Georgian War, Secret services, West
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Disinfo: The West was destroyed without a gunshot

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Feb 15, 2022
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative accusing the West of trying to provoke war with Russia.

Since late October 2021, Russia has conducted a military-build up along the Ukrainian border, including the deployment of as much as 190,000 troops, as well as of certain specialised military units, electronic warfare systems and heavy-armoured vehicles. Despite Russian denials, this has been proven by satellite images and intelligence of the US, Ukraine and NATO, among other countries and institutions. The European Union has stated that it will be standing firmly and decisively with Ukraine in front of any attempt to undermine its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Disinfo: What is happening in the Donbas today is a genocide

According to our assessment, what is happening in the Donbas today is genocide. Moreover, human rights are massively violated in Ukraine and there is discrimination against the Russian-speaking population.

Feb 15, 2022
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative portraying the Ukrainian leadership as pathologically Russophobic and bent on subjecting the country's Russian-speaking population to "genocide."

Ever since the conflict broke out in 2014, pro-Kremlin coverage of this issue has been characterised by the liberal use of the term "genocide," taken to mean the Ukrainian government's alleged treatment of the non-government controlled areas in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts.

Disinfo: US companies promote war in Ukraine to sell weapons

US arms companies benefit by promoting a supposed “Russian invasion of Ukraine” in the media. In a review of the coverage of The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, it was revealed that 90 percent of the articles published this year adopted an aggressive view of the conflict in Ukraine. Op-eds supported sending US weapons and troops to the region in face of a supposed Russian threat. It is a reality that the main media of the US are in the hands of an oligopoly, which has the sale of weapons among its interests. This basically means a permanent push for conflict and wars.

Feb 15, 2022
Disproof

This is part of an ongoing disinformation campaign aiming to deflect any Russian responsibility for the escalation of tensions with Ukraine as a result of Russia’s military buildup on the border. See our article The Kremlin’s Playbook: Fabricating Pretext to Invade Ukraine - More Myths.

Contrary to the claim, neither the US nor companies based there have been pushing for war in Ukraine. In fact, it is Russia who, since late October 2021, has been preparing for a military operation, including the deployment of as many as 190,000 troops, incl on occupied Crimea as well as certain specialised military units, electronic warfare systems and heavy-armoured vehicles. Despite Russian denials, this has been proven by satellite images and intelligence from the US, Ukraine and NATO, among other countries and institutions. While the European Union remains committed to maintaining dialogue with Russia, as HRVP Josep Borrell said in a letter sent to Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in mid-February, it has also stated that it will be standing firmly and decisively with Ukraine in front of any attempt to undermine its territorial integrity and sovereignty.