ANTI-WESTERN PROPAGANDA მედიის განვითარების ფონდი MEDIA DEVELOPMENT FOUNDADTION

Transcription

1 ANTI-WESTERN PROPAGANDA მედიის განვითარების ფონდი MEDIA DEVELOPMENT FOUNDADTION

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3 MEDIA DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

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5 MEDIA MONITORING REPORT 06 MEDIA DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

6 Author: TAMAR KINTSURASHVILI Researchers: DALI KURDADZE, SOPHO GELAVA Monitoring by TAMAR GAGNIASHVILI, SOPHO GOGADZE, KHATIA LOMIDZE, ROMAN BAINDURASHVILI, TAMAR SOPROMADZE, TINA GOGOLADZE, IRAKLI TSKHADADZE, MARIAM TSUTSKIRIDZE, NATIA GOGELIA, NATIA GOGOLASHVILI Designed by BESIK DANELIA, IBDESIGN This report Anti-Western Propaganda by Media Development Foundation (MDF) is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) within Promoting Integration, Tolerance and Awareness Program in Georgia [PITA], implemented by the UN Association of Georgia. The contents are the responsibility of MDF and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government and UNAG. ISBN ?-????-? 07, MEDIA DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

7 INTRODUCTION This study presents the analysis of media monitoring carried out by the Media Development Foundation (MDF) during 06. It reviews anti-western messages and disinformation disseminated by Georgian media outlets and other sources politicians, clergy, civil organizations and representatives of society. The MDF conducted a similar study in The study has been carried out in partnership with UN Association of Georgia within the framework of USAID s Promoting Integration, Tolerance and Awareness Program. This report covers the period from between January and December 06. The first part of the report highlights key findings of the study, the methodology and provides total quantitative data by sources. The second part of the report reviews propaganda methods and Russian sources. The final part discusses the instances detected within the framework of the Myth Detector project. 5

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9 CONTENTS KEY FINDINGS 9. OVERALL DATA. SOURCES OF ANTI-WESTERN MESSAGES 9.. Media 0.. Political parties 6.. Civil organizations.4. Representatives of society 4.5. Clergy 4. METHODS OF PROPAGANDA AND RUSSIAN SOURCES 5

10 CHARTS AND TABLES Figure. Typology of anti-western messages Figure. Anti-Western messages concerning identity, human rights, values 4 Figure. Anti-Western messages concerning NATO 5 Figure 4. Anti-Western messages concerning the West 6 Figure 5. Anti-Western messages about the USA 6 Figure 6. Anti-Western messages about the EU 7 Figure 7. Anti-western messages about nongovernmental organizations 8 Figure 8. Anti-Western messages by sources 9 Figure 9. Sources of anti-western messages by media outlets and their respondents Figure 0. Typology of anti-western messages by media outlets Figure. Typology of anti-western messages by political parties 6 Figure. Deflective Method of Hiding Russian Disinformation Sources 6 Table. European Countries/Institutions 8 Table. USA 4 Table. The West 45 Table 4. Various 46 Table 5. NATO 47 Table 6. Soviet and Post-Soviet Myth 48 Table 7. NGO s 49 8

11 KEY FINDINGS The monitoring revealed the following trends: Much like the previous period (04-05), the highest number of anti-western messages (.7%) concerned the issues of identity, human rights and values. A dominating view was that the West tries to impose homosexuality, incest, pedophilia, zoophilia, perversion and fights against national identity, traditions, Orthodox Christianity, family as a social institution. In a number of instances Orthodox Russia was portrayed as the counterweight to the West. Compared to previous years, there was an increase seen in messages against NATO (0.%); this increase was also proved by results of public opinion polls: while in 0 November, the support for the integration into NATO comprised 8%, this support decreased to 6%, according to the 06 NDI data. An opinion was promoted that Georgia s integration into NATO would result in the country losing Russia-occupied territories of Abkhazia and Samachablo. Block-free status and idea of neutrality were promoted as the counterweight to NATO integration mainly by Nino Burjanadze s political party Democratic Movement United Georgia. Various sources justified Russia s excessive military actions in Syria. Statements made against West, in general, comprised 0%, against the USA were at.5%, against the EU 8.9% and against local and international nongovernmental organizations 4.9%. The USA was mainly portrayed as instigator of violence, conflicts, color revolutions and coups. The EU and the Association Agreement were equated to the obligation to receive migrants and the threat of terrorism while visa liberalization and European integration were equated to a demographic threat. There were several instances of speculations that the EU imposes an obligation to legalize the trade in human organs. MDF (04-05), Anti-Western Propaganda. NDI (06), Public Attitudes in Georgia. 9

12 Calls were heard to ban nongovernmental organizations funded from abroad and international organizations (8) while bringing Russia as the example in this endeavor. The main source of anti-western messages was the media which can be divided into two groups: openly pro-kremlin outlets (Georgia & World, Sakinformi, Politicano) and anti-liberal, ethno-nationalist platforms (Obieqtivi TV, Asaval-Dasavali, Alia) with qualitatively identical messages. Eight pro-kremlin political parties distinguished themselves for their anti-western narrative; one of these parties Industry Will Save Georgia was represented in the parliament majority while the Democratic Movement United Georgia was represented only on the local government level. From among anti-liberal, ethno-nationalist political parties, the only one represented in the parliament is the Alliance of Patriots and their narrative is identical of that of pro-kremlin parties. The Alliance of Patriots made attempts to shift the emphasis from current threats (Russian occupation) onto historic threats (Ottoman occupation), thereby reopening historic trauma and instilling an opinion that Russia is not the only occupier but Turkey is an occupier too. The ruling coalition Georgian Dream was a hybrid association in 06, with political parties falling within it making statements that ran counter to the government s officially declared pro-western course. It is noteworthy that messages of the Democratic Movement United Georgia and the Georgian Dream against NATO were identical both in quantitative and qualitative terms. The majority of nongovernmental organizations distinguished for their anti-western messages were created after 0. Two of them (Eurasian Institute and the Global Research Center) have direct links with the International Eurasia Movement, the organization founded by the ideologist of aggressive Russian expansionist policy Aleksandr Dugin, as well as with Lev Gumilev Center. As for representatives of society, anti-western narrative was most frequently heard from viewers of Obieqtivi TV, persons having business and political ties with Russia and representative of so-called Soviet intelligentsia. The majority of clergy distinguished for their anti-western rhetoric belonged to the Patriarchate of Orthodox Church while one of the sources of such rhetoric was a priest with a criminal record of extremist acts (Basil Mkalavishvili). Propaganda platforms, when disseminating disinformation, often applies the technique of deflection i.e. avoidance of sources. The checking of fake information showed that largely identical disinformation was published in Russian media outlets or various news satire media outlets. Various conspiracy theories, method of demonization and Soviet myths were also actively exploited. 0

13 RECOMMENDATIONS Exposure of disinformation, media studies and surveys of public opinion polls must be continued to analyze sources that shape attitudes of consumers; Monitoring should be carried out not only of mainstream media but also of smaller platforms which are multiplied by means of social networks; Disinformation should be countered with the provision of verified, factual information to society and this communication should be carried out via mainstream media, not only via online platforms; The government must develop an effective communications strategy and promptly react to disinformation disseminated about Euro-Atlantic integration. At the same time, the government and the ruling political force must coordinate their communication and must not become a source of disinformation and myths themselves; Since the anti-western discourse is fed by xenophobia and homophobia, media self-regulation mechanisms must be applied intensively; Media literacy programs must be introduced so that citizens develop skills of checking fake information and avoid being consumers and disseminators of disinformation. METHODOLOGY Subjects of the monitoring were selected from both mainstream and tabloid media. They were: primetime news and analytical programs of eight broadcasters, namely: Georgian Public Broadcaster (Moambe), Rustavi (Kurieri, P.S.), Imedi (Qronika, Imedis Dro), Maestro (Maestros Kontakti at 0 p.m.), Tabula (Fokusi), GDS (0:0). In the pre-election period, launched on April, the list of subjects extended to include news programs of Obieqtivi TV and Kavkasia TV. Six TV talk-shows: Rustavi (Archevani), Imedi (Ghia Eteri), Maestro (Ghamis Kontakti), Obieqtivi (Ghamis Studia), Kavkasia (Barieri, Spektri), Tabula (Teorema). Seven online editions: Sakinformi, Netgazeti, Marshalpress, Interpressnews, Georgia & World, PIA, Kviris Palitra. Four newspapers: Rezonansi, Prime Time, Asaval-Dasavali, Alia. Apart from the subjects of regular monitoring, the report covers randomly selected disinformation about the West, which was disseminated via social media. Obieqtivi TV launched its news program in May and the monitoring of this program started on June.

14 The monitoring reflects both quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative data includes typology of anti-western messages. Given that political subjects often switched political parties and this process became extremely dynamic in the run up to 06 parliamentary elections, same subjects may be found in several parties, depending on their affiliation to this or that political party at the moment of making relevant statements.

15 OVERALL DATA The total of,58 anti-western messages were analyzed. Alike the previous period, the majority of them (.7%) concerned issues of identity, human rights and values. The increase was seen in anti-nato messages (0.%). By the amount of disinformation, the list is continued with general anti-western messages (0%), statements against the USA (.5%), messages against the EU (8.9%) and statements against local and international nongovernmental organizations (4.8%). Figure. Typology of anti-western messages IDENTITY/HUMAN RIGHTS/VALUES NATO WEST USA EU NGOs

16 Identity/human rights/values. Much like the previous period, the reporting period was dominated by views that the West tries to impose homosexuality () and unacceptable values (64), fights against national identity, traditions (48) and Orthodox Christianity (8), tries to impose incest, pedophilia, zoophilia, perversion (), fights against family as a social institution (5) while emphasizing juvenile justice as a threat. There were instances () when Orthodox Russia was portrayed as the counterweight to the West. Figure. Anti-Western messages concerning identity, human rights, values IMPOSE HOMOSEXUALITY UNACCEPTABLE VALUES FIGHTS AGAINST NATIONAL IDENTITY, TRADITIONS FIGHTS AGAINST ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY IMPOSES INCEST, PEDOPHILIA, ZOOPHILIA, PERVERSION 6 FIGHTS AGAINST FAMILY AS A SOCIAL INSTITUTION ORTHODOX RUSSIA VS THE WEST MEDIA SOCIETY CLERGY FORMER GOVERNMENT POLITICAL PARTY CIVIL ORGANIZATIONS CITY COUNCIL DEPUTY CURRENT GOVERNMENT NATO. The most frequently nourished skepticism was that NATO does not need Georgia and the country s aspiration towards the North-Atlantic Alliance was utopian (0). NATO was portrayed as threat (65) and an opinion was promoted that Georgia s integration into NATO would result in the loss of Russia-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Samachablo (5). A block-free status and the idea of neutrality as the counterweight to NATO were mostly promoted by Nino Burjanadze s political party, the Democratic Movement United Georgia (6). The participation of Georgian military personnel in international missions was portrayed not as a contribution to collective security but as a sacrifice made for others (). The results of 008 plebiscite on NATO and consequently, the public support to it were questioned (). An opinion was promoted that NATO will be unable to defend us (9). NATO-Georgia military exercises were evaluated as a provocation against Russia (8) while the integration into NATO was portrayed as a threat of Turkey s intervention into Georgia (6). 4

17 Figure. Anti-Western messages concerning NATO SKEPTICISM TOWARDS NATO NATO AS THREAT 60 7 NATO = LOSS OF TERRITORIES NEUTRALITY 4 GEORGIAN SERVICEMEN KILLED IN THE BATTLE FOR OTHERS 5 4 NATO CANNOT DEFEND US 7 QUESTIONING PLEBISCITE ON NATO 4 6 MILITARY EXERCISES A PROVOCATION AGAINST RUSSIA NATO = TURKEY S INTERVENTION 4 MEDIA SOCIETY CLERGY POLITICAL PARTY CIVIL ORGANIZATIONS FORMER GOVERNMENT THE WEST. The opinion was promoted that Georgia was not an independent actor, but, in reality, governed by Western countries (58); Russia was portrayed as the counterweight to the West (4); the West was equated to threats (8). Yet another opinion promoted was that the West did not support the reinstatement of justice in Georgia and impeded the delivery of justice against representatives of the government of United National Movement (0); the West s capacity to protect Georgia (7) and support its economic development and welfare (5) were questioned. 5

18 Figure 4. Anti-Western messages concerning the West THE WEST GOVERNS GEORGIA RUSSIA A COUNTERWEIGHT TO THE WEST THE WEST AS A THREAT THE WEST IMPEDES THE REINSTATEMENT OF JUSTICE THE WEST CANNOT PROTECT US 4 THE WEST DOES NOT SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/ WELFARE MEDIA SOCIETY CLERGY FOREIGN GOVERNMENT POLITICAL PARTY CIVIL ORGANIZATIONS CITY COUNCIL DEPUTY FORMER GOVERNMENT THE USA. The USA was mainly portrayed as instigator of violence, conflicts, color revolutions and coups (76); the strategic partnership with the US was equated to threat (4); the USA s capacity to protect us was questioned (4); the USA was portrayed as an inciter of terrorism (9) and a country which did not support Georgia s economic development (8); an opinion was promoted that the USA is an occupier too (8); Richard Lugar Laboratory, opened in Georgia to protect biosecurity, was equated to threat (5); opinions were voiced that the USA values only money () and that it fights against Georgia s education system (). Figure 5. Anti-Western messages about the USA INSTIGATOR OF VIOLENCE/CONFLICTS/COUPS 5 4 THE USA AS THREAT THE USA CANNOT PROTECT 5 THE USA INCITES TERRORISM 4 THE USA DOES NOT SUPPORT GEORGIA S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THE USA IS AN OCCUPIER TOO 5 RICHARD LUGAR LABORATORY AS A THREAT THE USA GOVERNED BY MONEY THE USA FIGHTS AGAINST GEORGIA S EDUCATION SYSTEM MEDIA SOCIETY CLERGY CURRENT GOVERNMENT POLITICAL PARTY CIVIL ORGANIZATIONS FORMER GOVERNMENT 6

19 THE EU/EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. Fanning Euroskepticism was a dominating trend in this category. An opinion was promoted that Georgia would fail to either achieve visa free travel with or integration into the EU because the EU would disintegrate (68); the EU and Association Agreement were equated to a threat (9); an opinion was promoted that the EU did not support the economic welfare of Georgia (); visa liberalization and European integration were equated to a demographic threat (7) while bringing the experience of Baltic States as a proof; there were several instances of speculations that the EU imposes an obligation to legalize the trade in human organs (); the EU s capacity to protect us was questioned (); Russian market was portrayed as more attractive than the EU market (). Figure 6. Anti-Western messages about the EU EUROSKEPTICISM 4 8 THE EU/WEST THREAT OF OBLIGATION TO RECEIVE MIGRANTS/TERRORISM EU DOES NOT SUPPORT ECONOMIC WELFARE OF GEORGIA 5 VISA LIBERALIZATION/EUROPEAN AS A DEMOGRAPHIC THREAT THE EU FORCES TO LEGALIZE TRADE IN HUMAN ORGANS THE EU CANNOT PROTECT US RUSSIAN MARKET MORE ATTRACTIVE MEDIA SOCIETY CLERGY RUSSIAN POLITICANS FORMER GOVERNMENT POLITICAL PARTY CIVIL ORGANIZATIONS CITY COUNCIL DEPUTY CURRENT GOVERNMENT 7

20 NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS. Dominating opinion was that Georgian nongovernmental organizations sell their country s interests (7) and serve the interests of other countries (8). There were calls made to ban funding of nongovernmental organizations from abroad as well as international organizations (8) while portraying Russia as an exemplary country in this endeavor; nongovernmental organizations were branded as spies of foreign countries (7) and in one case, even as instigators of coup. Figure 7. Anti-western messages about nongovernmental organizations NGOs SELL THE COUNTRY SERVE INTERESTS OF OTHER COUNTRIES NGOs FUNDED FROM ABROAD/INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS MUST BE BANNED NGOs ARE SPIES OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES NGOs INSTIGATED COUP MEDIA SOCIETY CLERGY CURRENT GOVERNMENT POLITICAL PARTY CIVIL ORGANIZATIONS CITY COUNCIL DEPUTY FORMER GOVERNMENT 8

21 SOURCES OF ANTI-WESTERN MESSAGES The main source of anti-western messages was media (47), followed by political parties (7), representatives of society (8), civil organizations (95), clergy (50), representatives of former government (). The category miscellaneous includes statements made by an independent deputy of the city council, representatives of foreign governments and Russian politicians (5). The fewest of such statements were made by government (5). Figure 8. Anti-Western messages by sources MEDIA POLITICAL PARTY SOCIETY 95 CIVIL ORGANIZATIONS 50 CLERGY FORMER GOVERNMENT 5 5 CURRENT MISCELLANEOUS GOVERNMENT 9

22 .. MEDIA Media outlets promoting anti-western narrative can be divided into two groups:. Pro-Kremlin outlets;. Anti-liberal, ethno-nationalist outlets. Messages of these two groups are largely identical; the only difference between them is the degree of openness of support towards the Kremlin policy. The distribution by these two categories is shown below: PRO-KREMLIN MEDIA OUTLETS GEORGIA & WORLD SAKINFORMI POLITICANO (FACEBOOK PAGE) ANTI-LIBERAL, ETHNO-NATIONALIST MEDIA OUTLETS ASAVAL-DASAVALI OBIEQTIVI ALIA HOLDING The leader among media outlets by the amount of anti-western messages (66) was the online edition Geworld.ge (Georgia & World) which, apart from editorial materials, published similar messages of 7 respondents; the next by the amount of such messages was Asaval-Dasavali newspaper (94) which showed the highest number of respondents having anti-western rhetoric (7). This is followed by the online news agency Sakinformi (editorial materials 89, respondents 66) and Obieqtivi TV (editorial 4, respondents 5); the newspapers Alia and Kviris Qronika, which fall under the Alia Holding (editorial 0, respondent 5). A relatively lower number of anti-western editorial comments were seen in the following outlets: Kavkasia TV (editorial, respondents 44), Kviris Palitra newspaper (editorial, respondents 8), Maestro TV (editorial, respondents ), online news agency Marshalpress (editorial, respondents 8). 0

23 Figure 9. Sources of anti-western messages by media outlets and their respondents GEORGIA & WORLD 94 ASAVAL- DASAVALI SAKINFORMI OBIEQTIVI ALIA HOLDING 44 KAVKASIA 8 KVIRIS PALITRA MAESTRO 8 MARSHAL- PRESS MEDIA OUTLETS RESPONDENTS As regards the typology of messages by media outlets, online Georgia & World (76), newspapers Asaval-Dasavali (5) and Alia (9) were dominated by topics such as identity, human rights and values in a negative context; statements against NATO were in abundance in Sakinformi (6) and statements against the USA were heard on Obieqtivi TV ().

24 Figure 0. Typology of anti-western messages by media outlets GEORGIA & WORLD ASAVAL-DASAVALI SAKINFORMI OBIEQTIVI ALIA HOLDING VARIOUS NATO THE USA IDENTITY/HUMAN RIGHTS/VALUES THE WEST NGOS The founder of the newspaper Georgia & World and its online-edition ge is LTD Historical Heritage. The establishment of Historical Heritage in 009 was publicly welcomed by the then President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev. One of the members of the public council of Historical Heritage is Aleksandre Chachia, a political scientist whom Dmitry Medvedev, in July 008, awarded an order for great contribution to friendship and cooperation with the Russian Federation. Another pro-russian NGO, Eurasian Institute, is also a partner of Historical Heritage. Along with anti-western attitudes, the publication is notorious for its Turkophobic, racist and homophobic content. PRO-KREMLIN MEDIA OUTLETS. Georgia & World as well as Sakinformi mainly promoted the opinion that the West tried to impose homosexuality and that zoophilia, incest and perversity was an ordinary mode of life in the West. It also frequently portrayed Russia as the counterweight to the West. DAVIT MKHEIDZE, author: What is preferable for Georgia to have relations with the West which is souteneur and servant of Satan or to have relations with co-religious Russia? Georgia & World, July Media outlets promoted a conspiracy theory that Georgia s integration into North Atlantic Alliance would result in Turkey s expansion into Georgia.

25 No one says that the Georgia will have to pay the price of joining NATO with his sovereignty and territorial disintegration and Georgian people will live under the dictate of the Muslim state Turkey. Georgia & World, 0 June Both Georgia & World and Sakinformi justified Russia s actions in Syria. ARNO KHIDIRBEGISHVILI, Safinformi editor-in-chief: Russia s successful action against ISIL in Syria proved that US antiballistic defense systems are absolutely useless there. Sakinformi, 6 July The 00 percent shareholder in the news agency Sakinfomi LLC is Arno Khidirbegishvili who is also the editor-in-chief of the edition since 0. According to damoukidebloba.com, the domain of Sakinformi is registered on the name of Taras Gagnidze who is the leader of the pro-russian organization Historical Heritage which also owns Georgia & World. Like Geworld.ge, Sakinformi is notorious for its hate speech. In its Turkophobic statements, Sakinformi portrays Russia as the counterweight to Turkey and makes unfounded references to the Treaty of Kars. Georgia & World portrayed the fight of Great Britain against Kremlin propaganda as an attempt to colonize Caucasus countries and use them as a base against Russia. JABA ZHVANIA, author: Great Britain does not even conceal that its aim is to reduce Russia s influence in the region, not support Georgians; it is about the increase of London s influence and colonization to the entire region in best traditions of Britain. Georgia & World, 7 December The Facebook page Politicano is a medium with links to Yevgeny Primakov Russian-Georgian Civic Center. The Center was founded by the Gorchakov Fund, which was established under the Russian President s decree, and the Georgian Institute for International relations. Both media outlets tried to shift the emphasis from real threats (Russian occupation) onto historic threats (Ottoman occupation) 4 and published fake news and Soviet era conspiracy theories, which may often be seen in Russian propaganda platforms, though sometimes without indicating Russian sources. 4 MDF (06), Hate Speech.

26 ANTI-LIBERAL, ETHNO-NATIONALIST MEDIA OUTLETS. This group includes Asaval-Dasavali, newspapers falling within the Alia Holding (Alia, Kviris Qronika), and Obieqtivi TV, the broadcaster with links to the political party Alliance of Patriots. Messages of these outlets were similar to messages of pro-kremlin media outlets. This group of media also promoted the view that the West fights against Georgia s sexual and religious identities and traditions. Media Union Obieqtivi was established in August 00. A co-founder of the company is Irma Inashvili, the current Secretary General of Alliance of Patriots of Georgia (APG); however, since 04, she is not listed among the management of the channel. The political party office and television are in the same building. Obieqtivi broadcasts not only via television frequency, but also via radio frequency and the Internet. TV Channel pursues Turkophobic, xenophobic and homophobic editorial policy. In its fifth monitoring cycle report, the European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), based on MDF s study, recommended Georgia that the authorities review their contracts with media outlets and cancel or not renew them in cases where media are known to engage in racist or homo-transphobic hate speech. The report, among other outlets, referred to Obieqtivi TV. GIORGI GIGAURI, journalist: If America allows same-sex love, it means that it accepts the love of Satan too!... Let s be more civilized and tolerant, replicate this modern experience and teach sex to children in our schools and introduce Satanism to them?! Asaval-Dasavali, 8-4 February LEVAN JAVAKHISHVILI, journalist: Obama administration encouraged these people with money and other means, assisted them in ruining the Georgia state, destroying traditions. Alia, 4- November Obieqtivi TV portrayed visa liberalization and integration with the EU as a demographic threat. One such statement of the TV company was based on the Russian media outlet TV.ru: VALERI KVARATSKHELIA, anchor: Women are raped in Europe openly, during the daylight; astonishing things happen there And you think that against this background and considering our region, our mentality, et cetera, Europe will grant us visa free travel? One can hardly imagine that. Obiektivi, Politikuri Ghame, January, 4 February Source: TV.ru 4

27 NINO RATISHVILI, anchor: This country will be emptied In our situation, [when there are] Turks, Iranians, Chinese; especially under these conditions, is it acceptable to speak about selling lands? But they speak because this, as it transpired, is one of EU s [demands] Obieqtivi, Ghamis Studia, 9 December Both Obieqtivi TV and Asaval-Dasavali newspaper blamed the USA for the events in Syria. A weekly Asaval-Dasavali was established on March 99. It is published every Monday. The owner of 00 percent of the shares in the newspaper is Lasha Nadareishvili who also acts as the editor-in-chief. According to the MDF s 06 report on Hate Speech, Asaval-Dasavali was the most homophobic edition which contained xenophobic statements too. NINO RATISHVILI, anchor: It was America that sheltered [terrorists] in Aleppo and not only there, was it not?!... It is irritating when you are told that it is unacceptable if Russian kills but acceptable if American kills because this is what democracy needs. Obieqtivi, Ghamis Studia, 8 December Along with editorial comments against the US, Obieqtivi TV promoted a view that the US destroyed nations for an idea (Nino Ratishvili, anchor: This is what America does, destroys nations for the idea. Obieqtivi, Ghamis Studia, 4 October). In a news program, a journalist questioned the results of 008 plebiscite on NATO: Alia Holding LLC was established in 966 and includes the newspapers Alia and Kviris Qronika. The owner of 00 percent of shares in the holding is Giorgi Bregvadze. In its fifth monitoring cycle report, the European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), based on MDF s study, named the outlets of the Holding because of their homophobic and xenophobic editorial policies and recommended the government to revise its contracts with these media outlets. Journalist: Eighty percent of voters gave a positive answer to the question whether Georgia should integrate into NATO. However, back in 008, the opposition political parties and nongovernmental organizations claimed that the election was rigged and consequently, results of the plebiscite do not reflect reality. Obieqtivi, News program, 4 July 5

28 .. POLITICAL PARTIES Alike media, political parties may be divided into two main groups: pro-kremlin political parties and anti-liberal, ethno-nationalist political parties. In addition, the ruling coalition is a hybrid association as the parties falling within it are very diverse. Messages of these three groups were largely identical. Pro-Kremlin political parties DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT UNITED GEORGIA T. MECHIAURI FOR UNITED GEORGIA SOCIALIST GEORGIA INDUSTRY WILL SAVE GEORGIA CENTRISTS LEFTIST ALLIANCE OUR HOMELAND GEORGIAN TROUPE Anti-liberal, ethno-nationalist political parties Hybrid associations ALLIANCE OF PATRIOTS GEORGIAN DREAM NATIONALS The most active in making anti-western statements were the Democratic Movement United Georgia and its affiliate People s Council; these two were taken as one whole in this study (96). The next by the amount of anti-western messages was Tamaz Mechiauri for United Georgia (55). Since the leader of this party, Tamaz Mechiauri, was a member of the Georgian Dream coalition from 0 to May 06, his comments, depending on time they were made, are distributed accordingly between these two political subjects. This is followed by Socialist Georgia (44). The leader of 4 DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT UNITED GEORGIA TAMAZ MECHIAURI FOR UNITED GEORGIA SOCIALIST GEORGIA 4 GEORGIAN DREAM 6 NATO USA IDENTITY/HUMAN RIGHTS/VALUES THE WEST EU NGO s

29 this party hosted the political talk-show on Obieqtivi TV until the 06 pre-election period entered the active phase; therefore, his comments are also distributed between media and political party, based on time they were made. Anti-Western statements of representatives of the ruling Georgian Dream coalition (4) were identical to those of Socialist Georgia. The ruling coalition was left by another political party - Industry Will Save Georgia which stood for 06 parliamentary elections as an independent subject; however, after the elections, this party is seen among the parliamentary majority again through a parliamentary faction called The Georgian Dream Entrepreneurs. Therefore, comments of this party made before 7 May 06 were attributed to the Georgian Dream whereas statements made thereafter were attributed to the political party Industry Will Save Georgia. By the amount of anti-western statements, the Georgian Dream coalition (40) was followed by Georgian Troupe (), Nationals (), Industry Will Save Georgia as a separate political subject (), Our Homeland (), Centrists (), Tetrebi (9), Leftist Alliance (9). The category Miscellaneous includes the following political parties: Traditionalists, National Forum and Free Georgia (7). Typology of statements, as seen from Figure, was the following: anti-nato statements were made most frequently by the pro-kremlin political party, Democratic Movement United Georgia (4) and the ruling Georgian Dream coalition (4). Although before the elections the coalition was left by those parties that most frequently made such statements, after the victory in the elections, one of such parties Industry Will Save Georgia joined the parliamentary majority again. Anti-NATO statements were also made by Tamaz Mechiauri for United Georgia (), the Alliance of Patriots (6), Socialist Georgia (0) and Industry Will Save Georgia as an independent subject (6). Almost all political parties distinguished themselves also by their anti-western statements as well as statements regarding identity and values. Figure. Typology of anti-western messages by political parties ALLIANCE OF PATRIOTS GEORGIAN TROUPE NATIONALS INDUSTRY WILL SAVE GEORGIA OUR HOMELAND CENTRISTS TETREBI LEFTIST ALLIANCE MISCELLANEOUS

30 Former Parliament Speaker of Georgia, Nino Burjanadze, left the United National Movement s government in April, prior to the Parliamentary Elections scheduled on May 008. The Democratic Movement United Georgia, was registered on 9 March 008. Burjanadze s electoral block became a qualified subject for the 04 Local Self-Government Elections, however, it failed to clear the 5% hurdle in the 06 Parliamentary Elections. Nino Burjanadze is the second Georgian politician, after ex-prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli, who, after the 008 Russian- Georgian War, met with Vladimir Putin in 00. For the 06 elections, she put forward an initiative of block-free status which implied amending the constitution to reflect this status. MDF s monitoring in 06 showed that the political party stood out for its homophobic statements. PRO-KREMLIN POLITICAL PARTIES. Among many pro-kremlin political parties only Industry Will Save Georgia is represented in the parliament and the Democratic Movement United Georgia is represented in local governance. Therefore, we will provide messages of only these two political parties. In the run up to the election, the Democratic Movement United Georgia put forwards the initiative of block-free status and neutrality (Nino Burjanadze: Neither NATO nor the US or Russian army and Georgia shall not join any military alliance, Sakinformi, 7 August). This initiative was shared by other pro-kremlin political parties, including Industry Will Save Georgia. Nino Burjanadze s party also promoted the opinion that Georgia s integration into the North Atlantic Alliance would result in the loss of occupied territories of Georgia. Pro-Kremlin parties (Democratic Movement United Georgia, Georgian Troupe, Socialist Georgia) justified Russia s actions in Syria while putting the blame for ongoing events on the USA. NANA DEVDARIANI, Democratic Movement United Georgia: American trend that Russia s military actions in Syria harm civilians fails to gain ground because the number of civil facilities accidentally shelled by US military is high. Georgia & World, 9 October Industry Will Save Georgia maintained that Georgia s integration into NATO would entail the expansion of Turkey into Georgia: GOGI TOPADZE, Industry Will Save Georgia: If Georgia becomes a NATO member-state (that s what Georgians dream about!), 0- military officers from Turkey as well as other European countries will be deployed, and - thousand Turk soldiers will follow. Will this benefit us? Georgia & World, 6 July 8

31 Almost all these political parties maintained that if Europe and the West means acceptance of homosexuality Georgia must drop its Western aspirations. DIMITRI LORTKIPANIDZE, Democratic Movement United Georgia: Mr. Prime Minister, if European choice means teaching the acceptance of homosexuality to younger children, something which can be clearly seen from methodologies of auxiliary textbooks that are annexed to the Charter of Council of Europe, we do not want Europe; nor do we want such a government that applies all means to achieve ends! Kviris Qronika, 7- March Pro-Kremlin political parties and affiliated organizations aggressively promoted the view that Georgia was actually ran by the West and local government did not express people s will: GIA BURJANADZE, Democratic Movement United Georgia: This law [antidiscrimination law] was also imposed from the outside, was it not?! Could anyone remind me who from the parliamentary ruling majority went against this?! Nobody! Do you know why?! Because that is what Uncle Sam ordered! Asaval-Dasavali, -7 February ELIZBAR JAVELIDZE, People s Council: Giorgi Margvelashvili is not the President of Georgia but the assistant to the US Ambassador! This is the anti-georgian policy of the United States! Asaval-Dasavali, 8-4 July Anti-liberal, ethno-nationalist political parties. As the monitoring of hate speech reveals, the Alliance of Patriots, which is notorious for fanning Turkophobia, tried to shift emphasis from current threats (Russian occupation) onto historic problems (Ottoman occupation), thereby reopening historic wound and Industry Will Save Georgia was established in 999. The political party was against the involvement of international financial institutions in the country s economy. It stood for the 0 parliamentary elections as a member of Georgian Dream coalition. In 06, just before the elections, the political party left the coalition due to anti-western statements of its leader, Gogi Topadze. However, after the 06 elections, the political party joined the majority again through a parliamentary faction Georgian Dream Entrepreneurs. 9

32 promoting a view that not only Russia was occupier but Turkey too. 5 At the same time, the political party tried to delegitimize the support towards NATO expressed by the Georgian population in the 008 plebiscite. Despite some decrease in the support, public opinion polls prove that the support towards NATO is still substantial. DAVIT TARKHAN-MOURAVI, Alliance of Patriots: While 5 years ago 00% of our society wanted to join NATO, today more than half of them no longer wants it and this is because we lived in such lies Kavkasia, Barrier, 7 July However, in contrast to other political parties, the Alliance of Patriots fans skepticism towards NATO discreetly: DAVIT TARKHAN-MOURAVI, Alliance of Patriots: Even those have rallied around our party who want NATO and who do not want NATO Why on earth? NATO does not exist and why we should quarrel about it. Obieqtivi, Ghamis Studia, May Alike other political parties, the opinion that the integration into NATO would result in the loss of territories was also popular in this political party: DAVIT TARKHAN-MOURAVI, Alliance of Patriots: How could Sokhumi or Tskhinvali be exchanged for NATO? Obieqtivi, Ghamis Studia, May Yet another view voiced was that the European integration would give rise to demographic threats; this view was coupled with racist statements: 5 MDF (06), Hate Speech. 0

33 GIORGI MAGHLAKELIDZE, Alliance of Patriots: Any sort of visa liberalization is unacceptable for me if I am obligated to receive such a large amount of ethnically different, not assimilable people who are a little heavy genetically and religiously and follow other religion. Obieqtivi, Ghamis Studia, 0 March There were instances when the USA was blamed for internal problems of Georgia: EMZAR KVITSIANI, Alliance of Patriots: At one time I also pinned hopes on Americans and believed that all misfortunes were coming from Russia, but how could I imagine that all this was done upon the order of Americans?! Asaval-Dasavali, 4-0 July The populist narrative about the West imposing homosexuality on us and fighting against our belief and traditions was actively applied by the Alliance of Patriots. IRMA INASHVILI, Alliance of Patriots: We adopt what is good from the West, however, we will never adopt what is bad and unacceptable for our country s interests, traditions, morale, customs, faith Irma Inashvili will never vote in the parliament for the law on same-sex marriage For me, family is a union between woman and man, nothing else: not a union between woman and cat, man and car, crocodile and something else, but between woman and man i.e. something that is recognized by my religion Obieqtivi, Ghamis Studia, 7 October Alliance of Patriots of Georgia was founded on 9 December 0. In 04, for the first time ever, the political party gained seats in the city assembly (5.7%), while in 06, having received 5.0% of the votes, it gained seats in Parliament. The party claims to be of right-conservative ideology. In its vision and program, available on the Englishlanguage webpage 6 of the political party (unavailable in Georgian), the party defines patriotism as thinking and pondering, speaking and discussing, acting and behaving in conformity with the national spirit, which in our case is the Georgian spirit. According to the party s vision, the tolerance of Georgian spirit implies readiness to adopt everything good from other nations, though, at the same time, giving preference to native Georgian. On its English-language website, the party declares the desire to integrate into the European Union while expressing skepticism about prospects of Georgia s integrating into NATO. The political party has links with TV Obieqtivi and alike this media outlet, the Alliance of Patriots is notorious for its Turkophobia and homophobia. IRMA TSKHORAGAULI, Alliance of Patriots: When NDI or BNDI, IRI or TIRI i.e. some Americans and Europeans tell us that mistrust is at some percent Mind your words, we are of different flesh and blood When one touched our religion, our language, our homeland, we always get united. Obieqtivi, Dilis Eteri, 6 August 6

34 Georgian Dream was founded and financed by Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili in February 0. In 0, the Georgian Dream Coalition won the parliamentary elections with 54% of the votes, thus gaining the parliamentary majority and setting a precedent of power change through elections. Before the 06 parliamentary elections, the coalition which consisted of six subjects was downsized. The Georgian Dream gained the constitutional majority in the 06 parliamentary elections. At present, alongside the Georgian Dream, the parliamentary majority still includes Industry Will Save Georgia, Conservative Party, Green Party, Social-Democratic Party and faction for Regional Development. Separate subjects within the coalition are known for their anti-western, homophobic and xenophobic statements. HYBRID POLITICAL PARTIES. Throughout 06, several representatives of the Georgian Dream coalition made statements that ran counter to officially declared pro-western course; this was explained by the diversity of the coalition. In the spring of 06, ahead of parliamentary elections, the coalition was left by two politicians (Gogi Topadze, Tamaz Mechiauri) who were most articulate against the West; however, after the elections, Gogi Topadze s party, Industry Will Save Georgia, made it into the parliamentary majority again. Issues concerning identity continued to be a topic in the narrative of the ruling political force even after it was left by several notorious politicians. In the run up to 06 elections, the Georgian Dream put forward an initiative of defining family as a union between man and woman in the constitution, therewith enhancing homophobic and anti-western discourse. NUKRI KANTARIA, Georgian Dream: There are countries where video clips are produced which feature a teacher entering a kindergarten group and asking: who has two fathers? and receiving applause. Then again, teacher asks: who has two mothers? and receives applause again. We are a small nation and let us protect our identity and our future. Marshallpress, 7 May Alike pro-kremlin political parties, separate representatives of the Georgia Dream also questioned the plebiscite results on NATO and demanded the conduct of a new plebiscite; also, the integration into NATO was portrayed as a threat of losing occupied territories. OMAR NISHNIANIDZE, Georgian Dream: Do we want to join NATO without Abkhazia and South Ossetia? Can one imagine that? I cannot. Consequently, should we repeat NATO as mantra and get damaged by that? This will not do. Kviris Alia, -8 May 06

35 Also like pro-kremlin political parties, representatives of the Georgia Dream justified Russia s actions in Syria and talked about the advantage of negotiating with Russia: GOGI TOPADZE, Georgian Dream/Industry Will Save Georgia: Those five months during which Russia fought in Syria and declared to the world that it regained the status of superpower, merely turned the geopolitics upside down i.e. a unipolar world came to the end. Instead of coming to our senses and negotiating with Russia, [Defense Minister] Khidasheli remains stubborn and keeps saying NATO while being unable to do anything! Georgia & World, 6 April.. CIVIL ORGANIZATIONS We selected five civil organizations for their anti-western messages mainly concerning issues of identity. The majority of these organizations were registered after 0. Moreover, direct links with Russia, according to the study of damoukidebloba.com, are seen in case of Eurasian Institute and Global Research Center. These organizations have direct ties with the International Eurasia Movement, the organization founded by the ideologist of aggressive Russian expansionist policy Aleksandr Dugin, as well as with Lev Gumilev Center. CIVIL ORGANIZATION UNION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS DATE OF ESTABLISHMENT 0 AMOUNT OF ANTI-WESTERN MESSAGES 4 EURASIAN INSTITUTE/NEUTRAL EURASIAN GEORGIA UNION OF ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN PARENTS NOT REGISTERED 4 GLOBAL RESEARCH CENTER 0 7 STALIN 0 5

36 .4. REPRESENTATIVES OF SOCIETY Society Amount Viewer/citizen 4 Givi Somkhishvili 5 Levan Vasadze Mikheil Tsagareli Soso Tsinsadze Hamlet Chipashvili Aleksandre Chachia 0 Rezo Amashukeli 8 Anti-Western attitudes from representatives of society were most frequently expressed via interactive programs on Obieqtivi TV. In this context, one could often see in media the ethno-centrist businessman Levan Vasadze who gained fortune in Russia. Pro-Kremlin views were articulated also by a political scientist Aleksandre Chachia who works in Moscow and in July 008, received the medal for great contribution to friendship and cooperation with the Russian Federation from Dmitry Medvedev. According to damoukidebloba.com, Chachia is a member of council of pro-russian organization Historical Heritage which is the founder of Georgia & World. Other speakers applying the anti-western narrative belonged to so-called Soviet intelligentsia and fanned anti-liberal, ethno-nationalist sentiments..5. CLERGY Religious servants Giorgi Razmadze Davit Isakadze 9 Davit Kvlividze 7 Basil Mkalavishvili 6 Religious servants listed in the table were most outstanding for their anti-western rhetoric. Among them only Basil Mkalavishvili does not belong to the Georgian Patriarchate as he was defrocked in 996. Basil Mkalavishvili was arrested by the United National Movement government for attacking Jehovah s Witnesses and Baptists and destroying their literature in 004. The court found him guilty and sentenced to six years in prison. 4

37 METHODS OF PROPAGANDA AND RUSSIAN SOURCES Within the framework of Myth Detector project, MDF verified 65 pieces of information disseminated in media in 06. Apart from the subjects of regular monitoring, the data includes randomly selected disinformation about the West, which was disseminated via social media. In 7 out of 65 cases, the media itself was the source of the disinformation and some fakes were disseminated by several media outlets simultaneously. In remaining 8 cases the sources of disinformation were various respondents. MEDIA. In most of the cases media was not indicating original sources of disinformation. Additional research of similar stories revealed that in some cases the disinformation was stemming from the invented, anecdotal stories of Russian or English language satirical-humorous editions; the media was picturing such invented satiric stories as a real news. To legitimize the message propaganda platforms conceal original sources. Propagandists actively utilize deflective or source-concealing model. The receiver perceives the information as coming from direct sources and does not associates it with the initial source. The goal is to hide the primary source of the message, create high degree of credibility for both message and apparent source. The chart below shows those Russian or other platforms that publish fake materials identical to the Georgian media outlets. The red color on the chart shows those Russian media outlets that have been identified openly in the material published in the Georgian media. In most of the cases, the Georgian media concealed Russian primary sources. 5

38 Figure. Deflective Method of Hiding Russian Disinformation Sources PROKREMLIST EDITIONS POLITICANO SAQINFORMI TB 4 OBIEQTIVI ASAVAL- DASAVALI HYBRID EDITIONS GEORGIA&WORLD THE GEORGIAN TIMES MEDIACITY.GE PIA 6

39 etotupo.ru ANTI-LIBERAL ETHNO-NATIONALIST EDITIONS ALIA HOLDING As for the methods of propaganda, the media outlets were mainly using the following propaganda methods: Disinformation (Fake news) Conspiracy Demonization Soviet myths Picturing satirical-humoroustic publications as genuine information Misleading titles Photo and video manipulations. SATIRICAL-HUMOROUSTIC EDITIONS 7.7% 7.7%.% BLUFF-NEWS BSTV.GE 9.% 5.4% 9.% 7.7% EUROPEAN COUNTRIES/INSTITUTIONS USA MISCELLANEOUS THE WEST NATO SOVIET MYTHS NGOs 7

40 RESPONDENTS. Respondents have been disseminating disinformation mainly in propagandist platforms with openly anti-western editorial policies. Whereas, in the mainstream media, the dissemination of disinformation without a critical approach was mostly due to lack of awareness of journalists in a certain field. TOPICS. Disinformation detected by Myth Detector was grouped into seven categories. By the amount of disinformation, the largest category ( items) was the one that concerned European countries and institutions (the European Union, the European Court of Human Rights), followed by the USA (8), the West (6), miscellaneous (6), NATO (5), Soviet myths (5), nongovernmental organizations (). EUROPEAN COUNTRIES/INSTITUTIONS METHOD OF PROPAGANDA MESSAGE SOURCE IDENTICAL RUSSIAN SOURCE OR OTHER SOURCES REAL FACTS DISINFORMATION/ MEDIA A judgment of the European Court allows an employer to monitor the contents of employees private mails. January 06 intermedia.ge, reportiori.ge, commersant.ge, news.ge The judgment delivered by the European Court of Human Rights in Barbulescu v. Romania case on January 06 concerns the access of Yahoo Messenger by the employer to monitor messages related to the fulfilment of professional tasks, not private mail. The European Court has ruled against baptizing infants. 8 January 06 Mediacity.ge, news.vitube.ge Original source Italian news site: ilgiomale.it Russian news site: kominform.ru No such ruling can be found on the official webpage of the European Court; moreover, according to the Italian thelocals.it, the Court denies such ruling. Andrew McFarrel, cited by kominform.ru as the source and a journalist of The Times, was denied by the Times as being its employee. The Great Britain begins to rehabilitate pedophiles and homosexuals 0 November 06 Asaval- Dasavali The informal term for the law referred to by Asaval-Dasavali is the Alan Turing law does not envisage pardoning convicted pedophiles as pedophilia remains a criminal offense in Britain. Pardon is extended to those convicted for homosexuality. A Danish court convicted Nanna Skovmand, a 7-year old victim of sexual violence and a Moroccan migrant. 5 May 06 Asaval- Dasavali twopercentdaily.com news.ru, politikus.ru Mylove.ru Nanna Skovmand was not a victim of sexual violence. The offenders beat Danish citizens, Nanna Skovmand and her boyfriend. The court convicted offenders, not Nanna Skovmand. 8