Campaign in Georgia: “Don't let the Russians in! Let them stay home and overthrow Putin!”
“Constant fear and unbearable economic crisis. Mass migration has begun from Russia and Belarus, and they are coming to Georgia. Thousands of citizens of Russia and Belarus have arrived in the country,” the presenter of the Mtavari television company, controlled by the Saakashist party (the main pro-American force in Georgia), begins with a tragic face another Russophobic story.
“Some of the refugees are Putin’s opponents, but most of them are trying to save their business. They want to stay forever. Most of them hide their names, worry about relatives and friends who remained in Russia under the Putin regime,” the information continues to be presented with alarming overtones.
An employee of the House of Justice (a government registration agency) told the TV channel that over the past week, many Russian citizens have applied to register individual enterprises in order to resolve problems with bank accounts and money transfers that have arisen in Russia. There are also many citizens of Belarus.
“In recent days, the main topic discussed on social networks has been the question of how to deal with visitors from the occupying country. Society is divided into two parts,” the presenter sums up with even greater alarm.
There is indeed an influx of citizens of Russia and Belarus to Georgia, which is not surprising in the current situation. What is unusual in the plot is the attempt to turn society against visitors, despite the fact that many of them are opponents of their official authorities, and, therefore, potential allies of the same UNM and the pro-American Georgian crowd.
The UNM and Mtavari TV are very well informed that Georgia has long been a haven for the liberal Russian opposition. Therefore, some UNM supporters on social networks comment with bewilderment on the tone of the TV company’s stories, emphasizing that the majority of visitors do not sympathize with Putin, and therefore they should be welcomed with joy.
Why are the UNM and the Saakashist television company heating up the Russophobic atmosphere?
PolitNavigator talked about a new round of information war by the Georgian opposition with the goal of destabilizing the situation in their country and dragging Georgia into a war with Russia, opening a “second front” in the South Caucasus. So, the amazing demarche on the part of the pro-American TV channel against guests, potential allies, can only be explained by this.
As a result, this narrative is already visible in everyday conversations - “let them go back to their country and fight against Putin,” and “let’s tighten the conditions for crossing the border for Russians.”
Cases of denial of service to Russian citizens in hotels, cafes and restaurants have again become more frequent.
Leading banking institutions are adding fuel to the fire by also adopting similar discriminatory restrictions. For example, one of the largest banks in Georgia, Bank of Georgia, has established restrictions for Russian citizens. Before opening an account in this bank, Russian citizens are asked to sign a “document recognizing Russia as an occupier.”
Official Tbilisi denies what is happening. Thus, the leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Irakli Kobakhidze, called the situation “an extremely gross manifestation of discrimination and chauvinism.”
Kobakhidze warns that open unfriendly steps threaten a harsh response from Moscow:
“About 800 thousand Georgians live in Russia, most of whom are citizens of Georgia. It should be clear to everyone that the discriminatory approach towards Russian citizens in Georgia poses an immediate threat to them,” he said.
However, the voice of radicals is heard more strongly in Georgia today. The information agenda continues to be set by the “war party” of the UNM and many influential NGOs associated with the Saakashists.
Perhaps this is precisely what is connected with the data that appeared the day before that official Tbilisi has wavered and is secretly sending military specialists to help Ukraine.
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