Georgia

A woman holds a phone with a portrait of Soviet leader Josef Stalin on case, during an event marking the 70th anniversary of Stalin's death, in his hometown of Gori, Georgia March 5, 2023. (Source: REUTERS/Irakli Gedenidze)

Thu, Mar 14, 2024

Stalin lionized on Georgian TikTok

TikTok videos promote myths about late Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, portraying him as a religious, well-educated strongman

by Sopo Gelava

Georgia Politics & Diplomacy

Thu, Feb 8, 2024

Pro-Kremlin campaign promotes “anti-Maidan” movement in Georgia

Georgian far-right party Alt-Info conducted a cross-platform social media campaign claiming the West was fomenting a coup against the country

by Sopo Gelava

Conflict Disinformation
USAID Administrator Samantha Power speaks to the media as she visits an aid center for refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh in the border village of Kornidzor, Armenia, September 26, 2023. REUTERS/Irakli Gedenidze

Thu, Dec 7, 2023

Russian and Azerbaijani pro-government outlets exploit Georgian USAID narratives

Outlets exploited Georgian government claims to push narratives blaming the US for organizing civil unrest in Georgia and running spies in Azerbaijan

by Eto Buziashvili

Armenia Azerbaijan

Tue, Oct 3, 2023

Georgian travel company behind inauthentic network promotes health-related clickbait content

Inauthentic network disseminated unreliable health-related content to promote travel company and increase sales

by Sopo Gelava, Jean le Roux

Advertising Disinformation

Tue, Sep 19, 2023

Pro-Kremlin groups mobilize online supporters to attack Tbilisi Pride Festival

Pro-Kremlin actors stormed the Tbilisi Pride Festival in July 2023, burning rainbow and Ukrainian flags

by Sopo Gelava

CrowdTangle Disinformation
Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei addresses the Ahlul Bayt World Assembly in Tehran, September 2022.

Thu, Apr 27, 2023

Iran-linked website targets Georgia’s ethnic Azerbaijani community with anti-West content

Iran-based website aimed at ethnic Azerbaijanis in Georgia publishes narratives supporting Russia and Hezbollah

by Sopo Gelava

Azerbaijan Caucasus
An Azerbaijani musician performs during Navruz celebrations in the Georgian town of Marneuli, March 21, 2006. (Source: Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili)

Thu, Apr 27, 2023

Facebook sources targeting Georgia’s Azerbaijani minority reflect pro-West outlook

A DFRLab review of Facebook pages popular among Georgia's Azerbaijani ethnic minority finds pro-West sentiments, including towards the EU, NATO and Ukraine

by Eto Buziashvili

Azerbaijan Georgia
Screencap shows a hijacked Formula TV Facebook page with newly posted images related to Google Bard, with older images from the TV network still visible. (Source: Facebook)

Mon, Apr 17, 2023

Malware masquerading as Google Bard ads targets millions of Facebook users

Perpetrators presented hijacked pages as Google’s AI service and convinced Facebook users, including a Georgian TV network, to download malicious software

by Eto Buziashvili

Advertising Facebook
A protester wrapped in a Georgian national flag raises hands while standing in front of law enforcement officers during a rally against the "foreign agents" law in Tbilisi, Georgia, March 7, 2023. REUTERS/Zurab Javakhadze

Tue, Mar 14, 2023

How the Kremlin misrepresented a video to claim Georgian protesters seek war with Russia

Footage from a protest in Tbilisi was presented with false context to accuse protesters of seeking war in the Russian-occupied Georgian region of Abkhazia

by Sopo Gelava

Conflict Disinformation
Participants protest against a draft law on “foreign agents” during a rally outside the parliament building in Tbilisi, Georgia, March 8, 2023. (Source: Reuters/Irakli Gedenidze)

Fri, Mar 10, 2023

The Kremlin and Georgian Dream spread similar narratives about protests in Georgia

Narratives attempt to discredit protesters, blame the West for public dissent

by Eto Buziashvili, Sopo Gelava

Civil Society Corruption
Protesters hold up their phones with flashlights lit during a protest in Warsaw, Poland on 17 October, 2022. Several hundred people gathered in front of the Iranian embassy to protest the supply of loitering Shahed drones to Russia. Russia is using the Iranian manufactured drones to attack Ukraine. Several dozen people have already died and critical infrastructure damaged in major cities after use of the Shahed drones by Russia. (Photo by Jaap Arriens / Sipa USA) (Photo by STR/NurPhoto)NO USE FRANCE

Fri, Oct 21, 2022

Russian War Report: Wagner sends vehicles to Kherson while Iran increases military support

Wagner Group has been reported in Ukraine assisting Russian forces in fighting and fortifying positions in the Donbas.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Balkans Belarus
Ukrainian first responders attempt to quash a fire ignited by a Russian missile attack in Zaporizhzhia, October, 11, 2022. (Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine via Reuters Connect

Fri, Oct 14, 2022

Russian War Report: Russia escalates war by targeting cities across Ukraine

Russia escalated its war against Ukraine this week with missile attacks and airstrikes on cities across the country, including the first serious attack in the capital Kyiv in months.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Belarus Civil Society