26 Trolls Discrediting Election Protests

Opposition parties and local monitoring organizations refused to recognize the results of the October 26, 2024 parliamentary elections, triggering widespread protests demanding re-elections. Independent local monitoring organizations and the opposition highlighted issues such as voter intimidation, breaches of voting secrecy, voter bribery, and procedural irregularities.

Amid the civil protests, trolls (fake accounts) became increasingly active on social media. They worked to discredit rally organizers, politicians, and participants while simultaneously expressing support for the government and Bidzina Ivanishvili. Notably, unlike journalists from other media outlets, these trolls showed solidarity with the “Imedi” TV crew during the protests and called for protesters to be punished.

“Myth Detector” examined the posts published by the “Ar Agarevinebt” (Won’t let (you) disrupt order) Facebook page between October 27 and November 22.  As an exception, the posts published on October 22 (Bidzina Ivanishvili’s video and card) were included in the analysis in order to compare the contrast between the leaders of the ruling team and the opposition politicians.  Identified trolls also left comments on the posts published by Ai Politika (What a Politics) and “აი უცნობი • i ucnobi”. As a result of monitoring, 26 fake accounts were identified:

• All 26 fake accounts used stolen photos of other individuals to enhance their credibility.
• 24 out of 26 accounts listed various Georgian companies and institutions as their workplaces.
• 25 of the fake accounts claimed to have studied at different state universities.
• The first recorded activity for 15 accounts occurred between January and February 2024.
• 10 accounts were created between August and September 2023, while 1 dates back to 2019.
• 8 accounts uploaded profile pictures on February 23, and 4 did so on February 22, suggesting coordinated activity.
• All 26 accounts followed Facebook pages linked to Gia Gachechiladze’s “Ar Agarevinebt” movement: “AI Politika,” “AI Msoplio Ambebi,” “აი უცნობი • i ucnobi,” and “Ar Agarevinebt.”
• These accounts comment on pages like AI Politika,” “აი უცნობი • i ucnobi,” and “Ar Agarevinebt.”
• Additionally, 10 accounts liked pages from both government-aligned media and those critical of the government

Fake accounts stealing identities

Troll	Whose identities are they stealing?
1. Avto Daushvili	Steals the identity of Andres Zmeu, a resident of France. He lists Wolt as his workplace and თბილისის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი Tbilisi State University as his educational institution. His profile photo was uploaded on September 25, 2023. Additionally, he has liked the following Facebook pages: Pirveli Arkhi, , POSTV – Analitika, TV Imedi, Ai Politika, Ai Msoplio Ambebi, Formula • ფორმულა, Rustavi 2 • რუსთავი 2, აი უცნობი • i Ucnobi, მთავარი არხი • Mtavari Arkhi, TV Pirveli • ტელეკომპანია პირველი, and Ar Agarevinebt
2. Anuki Gogia	Steals the identity of Moldovan blogger Alina Grumeza. She lists Tashre • თაშრე as her workplace and თბილისის სახელმწიფო სამხატვრო აკადემია/Tbilisi State Academy of Arts as her educational institution. Her profile photo was uploaded on February 22, 2024. She likes the following pages: , Ai Politika, Ai Msoplio Ambebi, აი უცნობი • i Ucnobi, Ar Agarevinebt.
3. Nino Kevlishvili	Steals the identity of a vkontakte.ru user, Александра Павилайнен (Aleksandra Pavilainen). She lists the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth of Georgia as her workplace and სოხუმის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი • Sokhumi State University as her educational institution. The first photo was posted on February 23, 2024. She likes the following Facebook pages:  Ai Politika, Ai Msoplio Ambebi, აი უცნობი • i Ucnobi, Ar Agarevinebt.
4. Davit Parulava	Steals the identity of a vkontakte.ru user, Василий Маноилэ (Vasily Manoile). He lists თბილსერვის ჯგუფი / Tbilservice Group as his workplace and თბილისის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი • Tbilisi State University as his educational institution. His profile photo was uploaded on September 16, 2023. He has liked the pages of several news agencies:  Pirveli Arkhi, , POSTV – Analitika, TV Imedi, Ai Politika, Ai Msoplio Ambebi, Formula • ფორმულა, Rustavi 2 • რუსთავი 2, აი უცნობი • i Ucnobi, მთავარი არხი • Mtavari Arkhi, TV Pirveli • ტელეკომპანია პირველი, and Ar Agarevinebt
5. Nene Feradze	Steals the identity of Facebook user Namolovan Anastasia. She lists Glovo as her workplace and BTU • University of Business and Technology as her educational institution. Her profile photo was uploaded on February 22, 2024. She likes the following Facebook pages: Ai Politika, Ai Msoplio Ambebi, აი უცნობი • i Ucnobi, Ar Agarevinebt
6. Natalia Bochorishvili	Steal the identity of a vkontakte.ru user, Александра Берару (Aleksandra Beraru). She lists Holiday Inn Tbilisi as her workplace and საქართველოს უნივერსიტეტი • The University Of Georgia as her educational institution. Her profile photo was uploaded on February 22. She likes the following Facebook pages: Ai Politika, Ai Msoplio Ambebi, აი უცნობი • i Ucnobi, Ar Agarevinebt.
7. Nuca Dolidze	Steal  the identity of a vkontakte.ru user, Valeria Praporşcic. She lists საქართველოს ბანკი • Bank of Georgia as her employer and Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University as her educational institution. Her profile photo was uploaded on February 22, 2024. She has liked the following pages: Ai Politika, Ai Msoplio Ambebi, აი უცნობი • i Ucnobi, Ar Agarevinebt.
8. Sopio Sazanishvili	Steal the identity of blogger larsentut. She lists TBC – თიბისი as her workplace and ილიას სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი • Ilia State University as her educational institution. Her profile photo was first uploaded on February 23, 2024. She has liked the following pages: Ai Msoplio Ambebi, აი უცნობი • i Ucnobi, Ar Agarevinebt.
9. Nato Mikautadze	Steal the identity of Instagram user romina_gidei. She lists ალდაგი | Aldagi as her workplace and კავკასიის უნივერსიტეტი – Caucasus University as her educational institution. She uploaded his profile photo on February 9, 2024. She has liked the following pages: Ai Politika, Ai Msoplio Ambebi, აი უცნობი • i Ucnobi, Ar Agarevinebt.
10. Tato Dolidze	Steal the identity of Instagram user dan_vidish. He lists Tegeta • თეგეტა as his workplace and თბილისის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი • Tbilisi State University as his educational institution. His profile photo was uploaded on September 17, 2023. He follows pages from the following approved news agencies: Pirveli Arkhi, , POSTV – Analitika, TV Imedi, Ai Politika, Formula • ფორმულა, Rustavi 2 • რუსთავი 2, აი უცნობი • i Ucnobi, მთავარი არხი • Mtavari Arkhi, TV Pirveli • ტელეკომპანია პირველი, Ar Agarevinebt, and  Tegeta • თეგეტა.
11.Giorgi Gegeshidze	Steals the identity of a vkontakte.ru user, Ramiz Gadirov. He lists Glovo as his workplace and თბილისის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი • Tbilisi State University as his educational institution. His profile photo was uploaded on September 10, 2023. He has liked the following Facebook pages: Pirveli Arkhi, , POSTV – Analitika, TV Imedi, Ai Politika, Ai Msoplio Ambebi, Formula • ფორმულა, Rustavi 2 • რუსთავი 2, აი უცნობი • i Ucnobi, მთავარი არხი • Mtavari Arkhi, TV Pirveli • ტელეკომპანია პირველი, and Ar Agarevinebt
12. Eka Gvritoshvili	Steal the identity of social media user Mihaela Muntean. She lists Liberty • ლიბერთი  as her workplace and სოხუმის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი • Sokhumi State University as her educational institution. Her profile photo was uploaded on January 15, 2024. She has liked the following Facebook pages: Ai Politika, Ai Msoplio Ambebi, აი უცნობი • i Ucnobi, Ar Agarevinebt.
13. Khatuna Tsirekidze	Steals the identity of ok.ru user Mariana Stratulat. She lists Gulf Georgia as her workplace and თბილისის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი • Tbilisi State University as her educational institution. Her profile photo was uploaded on August 13, 2023. She has liked the Facebook pages of the following news agencies: Pirveli Arkhi, , POSTV – Analitika, TV Imedi, Ai Politika, Gulf Georgia, Ai Msoplio Ambebi, Formula • ფორმულა, Rustavi 2 • რუსთავი 2, აი უცნობი • i Ucnobi, მთავარი არხი • Mtavari Arkhi, TV Pirveli • ტელეკომპანია პირველი, and Ar Agarevinebt
14. Koka Rurua	Steals the identity of vkontakte.ru user Влад Филиппов (Vlad Filippov). He lists Oktopus Fitness Club • ოკტოპუს ფიტნეს კლუბი as his workplace and თბილისის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი • Tbilisi State University as his educational institution. His profile photo was posted on September 16, 2023. He has liked the following: Pirveli Arkhi, , POSTV – Analitika, TV Imedi, Formula • ფორმულა, Rustavi 2 • რუსთავი 2, აი უცნობი • i Ucnobi, მთავარი არხი • Mtavari Arkhi, TV Pirveli • ტელეკომპანია პირველი.
15. Nona Eloshvili	Steal identity of ok.ru user Ирина Макаренкова (Irina Makarenkova). She lists Ziraat Bank as her workplace and საქართველოს ეროვნული უნივერსიტეტი სეუ • Georgian National University SEU  as her educational institution. Her profile photo was uploaded on February 23, 2024. She likes the following pages: Ai Politika,  აი უცნობი • i Ucnobi,  Ar Agarevinebt.
16. Eka Shioshvili	Steals the identity of Russian TV presenter Zhanna Badoeva. Her profile photo was uploaded on February 23, 2024. She likes the following Facebook pages: Ai Politika, Ai Msoplio Ambebi, აი უცნობი • i Ucnobi, Ar Agarevinebt.
17. Dadu Telia	Steals a photo taken by Ukrainian photographer Vikacita, originally published on Shutterstock.com. She lists Wizz Air as her workplace and თბილისის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი • Tbilisi State University as her educational institution. Her profile photo was uploaded on August 11, 2023. She has liked the following Facebook pages: Pirveli Arkhi, Wizz Air, POSTV – Analitika, TV Imedi, Ai Politika, Ai Msoplio Ambebi, Formula • ფორმულა, Rustavi 2 • რუსთავი 2, აი უცნობი • i Ucnobi, მთავარი არხი • Mtavari Arkhi, TV Pirveli • ტელეკომპანია პირველი, and თბილისის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი • Tbilisi State University.
18. Gia Berianidze	Steals the identity of vkontakte.ru user   Ando Harutyunyan. He lists Sheraton as his workplace and Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University as his educational institution. His profile photo was uploaded on July 21, 2019. He likes the following Facebook pages: Ai Politika, Ai Msoplio Ambebi, Ar Agarevinebt, Ar Agarevinebt, საქართველო უპირველეს ყოვლისა • Georgia First, Ar Agarevinebt, International federation of georgian wrestling, არ აგარევინებთ • ar agarevinebt, Sport Time • სპორტ თაიმი.
19. Tamuna Natsvlishvili	Steals the identity of ok.ru user Galyna Cataraga. She lists გალერია თბილისი • Galleria Tbilisi  as her workplace and Georgian Technical University as her educational institution. Her profile photo was uploaded on February 23, 2023. She likes the following Facebook pages: Ai Politika, Ai Msoplio Ambebi, აი უცნობი • i Ucnobi, Ar Agarevinebt.
20. Dali Janikashvili	Steals from ok.ru user Анна Карташова. Her place of work is  საქართველოს ბანკი • Bank of Georgia , and her education is თბილისის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი • Tbilisi State University.. Her profile photo was uploaded on January 15, 2024. She has liked the following pages: Ai Politika, Ai Msoplio Ambebi, აი უცნობი • i Ucnobi, Ar Agarevinebt.
21. Ana Kakhidze	Steals from ok.ru user Ina Булбоака. Her workplace is listed as Fresco, and her education is ილიას სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი • Ilia State University. Her profile photo was uploaded on January 15, 2024. She has liked the following Facebook pages:  Ai Politika, Ai Msoplio Ambebi,  Ar Agarevinebt.
22. Nodo Kipiani	Steals from ok.ru user ✴️ ™✴️. His profile photo was uploaded on February 23, 2024. He likes the following Facebook pages: Ai Politika, აი უცნობი • i Ucnobi, Ar Agarevinebt.
23. Nikoloz Eristavi	Stealing the identity of Facebook user Miska Cuznir, he lists iberty • ლიბერთი as his workplace and თბილისის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი • Tbilisi State University as his educational institution. His profile photo was uploaded on September 10, 2023, and he has liked the Facebook pages of various news agencies. Pirveli Arkhi, , POSTV – Analitika, TV Imedi, Ai Politika, Ai Msoplio Ambebi, Formula • ფორმულა, Rustavi 2 • რუსთავი 2, აი უცნობი • i Ucnobi, მთავარი არხი • Mtavari Arkhi, TV Pirveli • ტელეკომპანია პირველი, and Ar Agarevinebt.
24. Beka Bekauri	Steals the identity of Vkontakte.ru user Petrovan Vodniciar. He lists Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University as his educational institution.. He uploaded his profile photo on February 23, 2024, and has liked the Facebook pages  Ai Politika, აი უცნობი • i Ucnobi, Ar Agarevinebt.
25. Temo Zarkua	Steals the identity of Facebook user Boris Poromboceanu. He lists the Special State Protection Service of Georgia as his workplace and თბილისის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი • Tbilisi State University  as his educational institution. His profile photo was uploaded on September 23, 2023. He has liked the following Facebook pages: Pirveli Arkhi, , POSTV – Analitika, TV Imedi, Ai Politika, Formula • ფორმულა, Rustavi 2 • რუსთავი 2, აი უცნობი • i Ucnobi, მთავარი არხი • Mtavari Arkhi, TV Pirveli • ტელეკომპანია პირველი, Ar Agarevinebt, თბილისის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი • Tbilisi State University.
26. Lela Eloshvili	Steals the identity of Facebook user Лиля Малькова. Her workplace is ikora Supermarket • ნიკორა სუპერმარკეტი. and she lists Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University as her educational background. Her profile photo was uploaded on February 23, 2024. She likes the following Facebook pages: Ai Politika, Ai Msoplio Ambebi, აი უცნობი • i Ucnobi, Ar Agarevinebt.

Fake accounts portray Bidzina Ivanishvili as a philanthropist, national hero, and devoted family man who deeply cares for his homeland. They emphasize his political responsibility and express gratitude for his contributions to the country. In contrast, trolls aggressively attack opposition politicians and their supporters, posting mocking and insulting comments, distorting their statements, and creating video collages to discredit them. Their targets include individual leaders, opposition parties, and rally participants. Fake accounts aim to undermine protest participants and European institutions. For example, they criticize speeches by figures such as Polish Senate Vice-Speaker Michal Kaminski and statements by Josep Borrell. Trolls insult rally participants and depict their actions as incompatible with European values.

• What do fake accounts write about Bidzina Ivanishvili?

Fake accounts commented on a photo of Bidzina Ivanishvili posted by the “Ar Agarevibet” page, saying that his charity work and political responsibility should be appreciated. In the comments, these accounts also described Ivanishvili as a devoted family man, a patriot, and a national hero. Trolls were also active on a video of Ivanishvili shared by the same page, where he discussed identity protection and criticized opposition parties for their promise to “take you to Europe.” In their comments, trolls thanked Ivanishvili for his care for the country and expressed their promise to win elections.

• Who are the trolls trying to discredit? 

Fake accounts commented on short videos posted by the “Ar Agarevinebt” page, which targeted individual politicians like Ana Dolidze and Giorgi Vashadze, as well as the opposition as a whole. Trolls commented insulting and defamatory remarks about these politicians. In a video posted on November 16, Nika Gvaramia questioned the issue of the frame envelope, stating: “If the frame envelope was big, why did it get smaller? If the sheet was thick, why did it get thinner?!” Kakha Kaladze’s comment, “Both length and breadth is enough for UNMers (United National Movement),” was included in the video. Trolls in the comments mocked Nika Gvaramia while praising Kakha Kaladze’s wittiness.

Following the November 4 protests, the “Ar Agarevinebt” Facebook page posted a video collage featuring Giorgi Vashadze calling for new elections. The video also included statements from Mamuka Khazaradze, Tina Bokuchava, Gubaz Sanikidze, and Sopo Japaridze, interspersed with clips from various Georgian films and other mocking footage aimed at discrediting them. Trolls also left insulting comments on a video of Paata Manjgaladze shared by the same page.

A video titled “They Bark and Gather,” posted by the “Ar Agarevinebt” page, compiles various clips of opposition politicians. The video includes a news segment discussing a rabies case in Tbilisi and the search for individuals who had contact with the infected dog. This juxtaposition creates the impression that Georgian opposition politicians were bitten by a rabid dog.

Fake accounts also commented on a footage from the speech of the vice-speaker of the Polish Senate, shared on the “Ar Agarevinebt” page. Trolls further criticized a statement by Josep Borrell, in which he mentioned the freezing of over 100 million euros of state funds, which would be “given to radical NGOs.”

Trolls discredited journalists, speakers at the rally, activists (1,2), and protest participants, including Salome Zurabishvili’s brother, in comment section of videos posted by the “Ar Agarevinebt” Facebook page. They also directed insults at journalists.

Unlike the protestors and critical journalists, the trolls expressed loyalty to the “Imedi” film crew. On November 19, the “Ar Agarevinebt” Facebook page posted a video in which protest participants addressed the “Imedi” crew. The video was accompanied by the caption: “Government of Georgia, either address this issue or we will take care of these stateless people for sure! Our support to Imedi TV!” In response to the “Monebo” call to the “Imedi” crew, trolls demanded a strict reaction from investigation agencies, including the arrest of opposition leaders and the punishment of protest participants. They also wrote that the rally participants were “dirty” and unworthy of entering Europe.

• What other pages do fake accounts comment on?

In addition to the “Ar Agarevinebt” Facebook page, fake accounts also left comments on the “Ai Politika” and “აი უცნობი • i ucnobi” pages. Trolls responded to a card published on November 20 by the “Ai Politika” page, in which solidarity was expressed with the employees of “Imedi” TV Company.

On the same day, the “Ai Politika” page disseminated a post by Mamuka Mdinaradze, the executive secretary of “Georgian Dream,” in which he commented on the protests at TSU: “Some people wonder what university protests have to do with Samushia’s resignation at all. What’s unclear? Two hundred or three hundred votes weren’t falsified—300,000 were [they say]. Therefore, the only explanation is that he forged 300,000 votes through the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics and woke us up in Chelyabinsk!” In the post’s comments, users supported Mdinaradze’s statement while also criticizing the content of the protests and the actions of the activists.

Fake accounts are also leaving comments on the “აი უცნობი • i ucnobi” Facebook page, which shares Giorgi Gachechiladze’s program “Utsnobis Kidobani” and its segments. The activity of fake accounts was particularly noticeable on a video posted on November 3, where the program’s host, Giorgi Gachechiladze, and Soso Manjavidze discuss the voters of the “Gvaramia Party.”

• Which pages have fake accounts liked?

All fake accounts have liked the following Facebook pages related to Gia Gachechiladze’s (Utsnobis) “Ar Agarevinebt” movement: “Ai Politika, “Ai Msoplio Ambebi”, აი უცნობი • i ucnobi, and “Ar Agarevinebt”. The 16 accounts have liked only these four pages or in some cases three, while the remaining 10 accounts have also liked pages from other news agencies (Pirveli Arkhi, POSTV – Analitika, TV Imedi, Formula, Rustavi 2 • რუსთავი 2, Mtavari Arkhi, and  TV Pirveli • ტელეკომპანია პირველი) Additionally, some of these accounts, based on their stated workplaces and educational institutions, have liked pages that align with their self-identified affiliations.

About the source:

The “Ar Agarevinebt” is a page aimed at discrediting the opposition and supporting the government, linked to Gia Gachechiladze’s movement of the same name. Gachechiladze announced the public initiative “Ar Agarevinebt!” in April 2022, and on May 5, 2022, the Facebook page “Ar Agarevinebt” was created. The page remained active until February 8, 2023, when it published a post announcing that its posts had been subjected reduced visibility on Facebook. The post also included a link to a new page for subscribers.

These pages, along with movement-affiliated page (არ აგარევინებთ • Ar Agarevinebt), have been frequently involved in various discrediting campaigns. Additionally, they have disseminated posts containing manipulative content. For more information, read the articles from “Myth Detector”

• Manipulation, as if people did not attend the rally on October 28
• Discreditation Campaign Against Salome Zourabichvili
• Manipulated photos depicting Salome Zourabichvili have been circulating on Facebook
• What do we know about Mika Vinokurov, who came to Georgia, and his connection to Sergey Lavrov?
• Pro-government and anti-Western accounts against Lazare Grigoriadis
• Sponsored Posts and Pro-Governmental Actors Against the Members of the European Parliament
• Messages of Pro-Governmental and Pro-Kremlin Actors Against the Tbilisi International Conference ‘Glory to Ukraine’
• “Ar Agarevinebt” disseminates a video montage of Japaridze’s visit to the “Lie Detector”
• Georgian Pro-government Media Covers Yet Another Western Expert of the Kremlin
• Lisa Yasko or Inga Grigolia – Who Called Saakashvili “My Beloved Man?”
• Berdzenishvili’s quotes on Vazha-Pshavela circulates without context
• Altered video circulates to discredit June 20 protests
• Pro-Governmental Trolls, Anonymous and Anti-Liberal FB Pages against Nika Gvaramia
• The Ukrainian Front of Georgian Pro-Governmental Trolls