On March 30, the Facebook account Davit Jebashvili, known for frequently spreading disinformation, posted a video with the caption “Led Astray,” linking it to the ongoing protest in Tbilisi. The footage shows women dancing in the street while the following chants can be heard in the background: “No justice, no peace; fear the power of the people – the people’s storm is coming; listen to the people’s voice – the people demand justice; the people’s river will not stop – it flows from the heart of the country; we will not stop – call for elections; victory is with the people…” Some Facebook users perceived the women in the video as participants in the protest.
The video circulating on social media is not related to the protests in Tbilisi. In reality, it was filmed in Argentina during a protest and, according to media reports, depicts a feminist dance. The phrases characteristic of the protests in Georgia were added to the video later.
The video circulating on social media can also be found in open sources (1, 2). However, in none of these versions are the phrases heard that characterize protests in Georgia held to demand justice and new elections. The altered audio was added to the video later.
An identical video was shared by the Argentine media outlet Tucumán Digital. According to the post, the footage was recorded in Argentina during a protest against President Javier Milei on March 24.
March 24 is a national holiday in Argentina. On March 24, 1976, a years-long dictatorship was established in the country. To commemorate this date, Argentinians observe the National Day of Memory for Truth and Justice. It was on this occasion that demonstrators also protested against the current government of Javier Milei. Some protesters expressed dissatisfaction with the Argentinian president’s reduction of the number of victims of Argentina’s Dirty War. According to Milei, “Dirty War” claimed 9,000 lives, whereas critics argue that the real number is closer to 30,000. Additionally, some activists joined the protest to oppose Milei’s strict anti-inflation policies.
Observing the video of the women’s dance also reveals that it was not filmed in Tbilisi. On March 24, Argentine protesters gathered near Buenos Aires’ Legislature Palace. A Google Maps search of the area outside the Legislature Palace confirms that the footage was taken in front of this building. One of the doors, as well as details of the building and the streetlight pole shown in the video, match those of the Legislature Palace.
Efforts to discredit protests in Georgia take various forms. Alongside disinformation posts, video fabrications and other types of visual manipulation are frequently shared. Myth Detector systematically verifies such suspicious content.
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