On October 25, an anti-opposition Facebook account, “Polit Ologi,” posted a video allegedly showing Nika Gvaramia, one of the leaders of the “Coalition for Change,” kissing journalist Giorgi Gabunia. The video was accompanied by a caption stating: “Previously unseen footage of Gvaramia and Gabunia.” Some viewers in the post’s comments believed the video to be real.
The footage of Nika Gvaramia and Giorgi Gabunia kissing is fabricated, created using DeepFake facial manipulation technology. This scene does not exist in any open-source footage. Additionally, the video displays certain flaws indicating the use of DeepFake technology.
The clip used for this video manipulation was originally taken on August 20, 2019, in front of Georgia’s Parliament building. At the time, continuous protests were ongoing following the dispersal of the anti-Russian demonstration on June 20. During these protests, Shota Digmelashvili, leader of the civil organization Shame, was interviewing journalists live on the organization’s Facebook page. On the 62nd day of protest, journalists, including Giorgi Gabunia, Nika Gvaramia, and Eka Kvesitadze, were discussing the creation and plans for the new television channel Mtavari Channel. The footage used in the DeepFake appears at the end of the broadcast (timestamp: 12:24:00), but no kissing scene occurs between the journalists.
Further analysis reveals that the video is indeed inauthentic. Gabunia’s and Gvaramia’s faces and teeth appear distorted and unnatural, and during the supposed kiss, they remain almost entirely still, with only minimal, unnatural finger movement.
Earlier this week, Myth Detector identified another videofabrication involving Gvaramia and Gabunia, suggesting a coordinated discrediting campaign ahead of the elections. These videos aim to mislead viewers into believing that the two are in a relationship.
About the Source:
The anonymous Facebook account “Polit Ologi” regularly publishes content intended to discredit opposition figures. Myth Detector actively monitors and fact-checks information disseminated by this account.
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