FAKE NEWS: The EU wants to use Georgia as a military ally against Russia

The West supports the protests in Georgia in order to sow instability, acquire another ex-Soviet colony and have a military ally in the region, Russian propaganda writes.

Disinformation: The EU is destabilizing Georgia in order to turn it into a Western colony and have a military ally against Moscow

NEWS: The actions of the European Union, aimed at destabilizing Georgia, could be aimed at turning Tbilisi into a military ally directed against Moscow, Senator Aleksei Pushkov says. “The transition of relations between Brussels and Tbilisi to a conflict phase is clear. Behind this lies a slightly embellished neo-colonial EU attitude, essentially targeting several former USSR republics, on which Brussels imposes certain rules of conduct and even voting norms for political forces that fall in line with the West’s paradigm”, Pushkov argued [..]

The West is trying to bring the opposition to power in Georgia, to create more than a country obeying the orders of Washington and Brussels. Pushkov is confident this political move is aimed at pushing Georgia further away from Russia and align it to the regime of Western sanctions, despite its economic interests.

The senator suggests that the West could turn Georgia into a military ally directed against Russia. Earlier, Georgia declared its readiness to join the EU, without any blackmail from Brussels.

NARRATIVES: 1. The West is destabilizing Georgia in order to turn it into a colony and blackmail it. 2. The EU wants to use Georgia as a military ally against Russia.

PURPOSE: To manipulate public opinion regarding the EU's actual policies towards Eastern Partnership countries. To promote anti-Western and pro-Russian narratives in the Caucasus and ex-Soviet space.

FACT: The EU has no interest in destabilizing Georgia. The anti-government protests are staged in response to corruption, democratic regression and the delay of reforms necessary for EU rapprochement.

WHY THE NARRATIVES ARE FALSE: In fact, the protests in Georgia are caused by citizens’ dissatisfaction with the current government, which, despite election promises, decided not to put the issue of EU accession on the agenda until 2028. Georgian society was shocked by the level of violence directed against journalists and protesters. Dozens of reporters were beaten or sprayed with paralyzing spray, and some required medical treatment. Georgian riot police fired water cannons and tear gas against thousands of protesters and detained several demonstrators.

It is important to note that Georgia has expressed its interest in joining the EU, signed an Association Agreement, which contradicts the idea of ​​the forced transformation of the state into a Western colony. EU rapprochement is not imposed by Brussels, rather it represents an aspiration of the population. EU accession is not a forced policy and does not have a colonial purpose, as Russian propaganda states. Thus, the propaganda narrative distorts reality and underestimates Georgians’ legitimate aspirations.

The EU is not a military alliance and cannot enter into a war against anyone as an international organization. Brussels seeks to support the democratic development, stability and economic integration of Georgia. Furthermore, Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations are also enshrined in the country's Constitution.

Geopolitical decisions are not dictated by the EU. Countries individually ask to be accepted into the European community. Therefore, Georgia cannot join the EU without implementing anti-corruption reforms or other measures required to make the decision-making process more transparent, as requested by Brussels. This is not blackmail, but a number of accession requirements, known as the Copenhagen Criteria. Therefore, if a candidate country does not have stable institutions that safeguard democracy, the rule of law, human rights, minorities and political pluralism, it cannot be admitted to accession negotiations.

Protesters accuse the current Georgian government of authoritarian tendencies and criticize the adoption of a foreign policy that is not aligned to citizens’ pro-Western aspirations. Some government decisions are seen as favoring relations with Russia, raising fears that the state might return to Moscow's geopolitical and military orbit.

BACKGROUND: The ruling Georgian Dream party has accused the EU of using accession talks as “blackmail” and announced that the government has decided to suspend any talks with Brussels on this matter until the end of 2028. Georgia’s Constitution stipulates that “all necessary measures” must be taken to integrate the country into both the EU and NATO. The Georgian government has been accused by the West of adopting measures that undermine democracy by restricting press freedom and limiting citizens’ rights. The EU and the USA have repeatedly criticized the Georgian government for its democratic backsliding. The US has announced that it is suspending its strategic partnership with Georgia, with the introduction of sanctions being considered as a possibility.

Having adopted a law against “foreign agents” similar to the one passed in Russia, the Georgian government claims it is acting to protect the country against external interference and prevent it from becoming embroiled in military conflicts like the one in Ukraine.