DISINFO: The West wants to draw Russia into a conflict with Georgia
SUMMARY
The West wants to draw Russia into a conflict with Georgia in order to weaken Moscow against the backdrop of a confrontation with Ukraine.
They [the West] want the Georgians to open a second front. Ukraine is losing the conflict, and therefore, in desperation, they need the Georgians to sacrifice their country to help the Ukrainians.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Georgia in the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and Russia being the ultimate target of international events. This disinformation claim resurfaced in the light of the March 2023 protests in Georgia, which pro-Kremlin outlets portrayed as instigated from abroad.
The claim is false. The West is not interested in an escalation of the war. Neither the US nor the EU are pushing Georgia to open a second front against Moscow.
Framing all popular protests against Russia’s interests as a foreign-led ‘colour revolution’ is a frequent pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative. In fact, Georgia’s protests have been driven by strong rejection among Georgian citizens of the controversial ‘foreign agents law’, which critics say mirrors a 2012 law in Russia used to crack down on dissent and suppress western-funded NGOs and media, and which could be used to restrict freedom of expression and association. The bill could impede Georgia’s hopes for closer ties with the European Union, following local and international criticism, including from the US, EU and its member states, as well as the UN.
The pro-Kremlin media frequently falsely portray popular protests around the world as instigated from abroad, often by the US and the West. The disinformation narrative has been applied, among others, to reports about protests in Georgia, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Belarus, Venezuela, Slovakia, Hong Kong, with the aim of portraying protest movements as aggressive actors who constantly prepare new coups.
Read similar disinformation cases claiming that The US intends to use Georgia to inflame conflicts near Russia, that Washington using Georgia to open a second front against Russia, that The US behind protests in Georgia, that The protests in Georgia were organised by the United States, that Western special services influence internal and external processes in Georgia, that the West is interfering in Georgian protests, that Protests in Georgia are attempt to forcibly change power, resembling Euromaidan, that Protests in Georgia orchestrated from abroad, that The West obstructs Georgia’s attempt to become an independent state, or that Foreign agents in Georgia exploit naïve protesters for regime change.
This disinformation claim was broadcast on the date mentioned above. Due to the EU decisions to temporarily restrict the spread and dissemination of RT, Sputnik and other instruments used to manipulate information and promote disinformation about the invasion of Ukraine inside the EU, access to the link may not work inside the EU.