Pro-Russian Disinformation Narratives in Georgia Since Russia's Full-scale Invasion of Ukraine

Abstract

Disinformation campaigns have been part of Russia's hybrid warfare against Georgia for years, though their intensity increased even further after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This article explores the key disinformation narratives promoted in the Georgian context since the start of the war. Analysis of key messages shows that the main target of pro-Russian disinformation is still the West, but that the content of the main narratives has shifted to better reflect Russia's interests after the full-scale invasion in Ukraine, with more emphasis on presenting a desirable image of political and war developments in Ukraine while presenting the West as an unreliable partner trying to drag the country into war against Russia. Even though current opinion poll results do not seem to reflect a significant impact of these persistent pro-Russian disinformation efforts on the Georgian society, in the context of lacking systematised state-level counteractions, it remains to be seen what the long-term implications of these actions will be.