On May 8, pro-government media outlet POSTV, as well as Facebook users Nodo Demurishvili and Davit Jebashvili, posted a video in which a participant in the protest against the so-called law on agents stated: “I am now standing in front of Erekle and I want to reiterate that the first betrayal Georgia experienced was Russia’s betrayal against Erekle.” In comments under the post, Facebook users wrote that it was about the betrayal committed by King Erekle II.
The video of the participant in the rally is spread in a manipulative way. In reality, the participant is not talking about the betrayal committed by Erekle II. but about the betrayal committed by Russia.
The woman speaking in the footage is a participant in a rally against the so-called law on agents, held in Telavi, Kakheti, on May 7. The comment in which she speaks about King Erekle, Russia, and betrayal was broadcast on TV Pirveli.
“Before we limit ourselves to our professions, we must not forget our civic responsibility, and today, I am standing here as a citizen, as a teacher who should be an example for young people who pin hopes on their future. They hope that Georgia will never become Russia. I am now standing in front of Erekle and I want to reiterate that the first betrayal Georgia experienced was Russia’s betrayal against Erekle. Therefore, our city will once again declare that we do not welcome Russians in our city, we are not happy with Russians, and no to Russian law,” she said in her interview with TV Pirveli (4:50).
If one listens to the protestor’s comment in full, it becomes clear that in the video, she is in fact not talking about the betrayal committed by Erekle II but about the betrayal committed by Russia, and sheis emphasizing that for the first time, Russia betrayed Georgia during the reign of Erekle II.
About the source:
The Facebook user, Davit Jebashvili, regularly disseminates anti-Ukrainian and anti-Western posts and photo/video fabrications. The Myth Detector has repeatedly double-checked the disinformation he spreads.
The Facebook user, Nodo Demurishvili, has also spread disinformation in the past. The Myth Detector has verified his false assertions.
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