On November 1, 2020, news agencies alia.ge, resonancedaily.com, primetime.ge, Metronome.ge and progressnews.press published identical news regarding a statement by a representative of the United Opposition, Gubaz Sanikidze, about the election results. Titles of the articles slightly differ, however all of them employ a quote – “Disobedience or a coup d’état”. Resonance radically assessed Sanikidze’s statement, whereas Progressnews considered it a call to the streets. A Facebook page, FunTube, shared the article by Resonance on November 1 with an identical text.
Articles by all aforementioned editions cite Gubaz Sanikidze’s assessment regarding the elections and the government, but they do not mention when or where was the statement made.
The widespread quote is taken out of context and is manipulative, as it does not match the actual statement and creates a perception as if Gubaz Sanikidze calls on people to overthrow the government. In fact, Sanikidze stated that it is the government that carries out the coup d’état and called on the opposition to mobilize and boycott.
The given statement is taken from Mtavari Channel’s program „ღამის მთავარი“ (News at night) that aired at 00:10 on November 1. At 02:38, Gubaz Sanikidze joined the program via phone and evaluated the elections. Namely, Sanikidze stated that the Government of Georgia is carrying out a coup d’état and called on the opposition to act.
In online media, the statement is taken out of its original context and distorted: sentences are taken from different parts of Sanikidze’s statement and merged in such a way so as to create a perception that he is calling on the opposition to overthrow the government. In fact, Sanikidze stated that it is the government who is carrying out the coup d’état. Alia, Resonance, Primetime, and Progressnews completely removed this part from Sanikidze’s quote.
Actually, Sanikidze started to speak on 02:39:38 that the government is carrying out the coup d’état and on 02:41:48 he stated that the opposition has two directions: 1. Start disobedience; 2. Boycott everything. Sanikidze justified the disobedience by his belief that the government is carrying out the coup d’état. Therefore, the quote has been cited in media (including social) in a distorted manner and out of the context, creating a perception that Sanikidze is calling to overthrow the government.
| Manipulative quote | Real quote |
| “I am addressing the political spectrum and call on them to wake up – the country is ready to be handed over to Russia. The opposition has to wake up, we should meet, and decide, first thing in the morning tomorrow. There are two directions – either we are beginning a disobedience or a coup d’état takes place.” | 02:39:38: “I am addressing the political spectrum and call on them to wake up – the country is ready to be handed over to Russia. A coup d’état is being carried out by the government in Georgia, so the opposition should wake up from tomorrow morning. What is wrong with you?! Regain consciousness! We should meet and decide, plan, how to kick these scoundrels from the country.”
02:41:48 :“We should meet, decide, figure out the tactic tomorrow morning – this is our duty to our country, our beloved ones, those dead or alive, and our future. There are two directions here – we either begin disobedience in the country because a coup d’état is taking place, or we start boycotting everything.” |
Mtavari Channel also published Gubaz Sanikidze’s statement on its Facebook page.
On November 2, a Facebook page „სირცხვილის კორიდორი“ (Corridor of shame) also shared a part of the given quote. The post comes with Sanikidze’s photo and a description: “’Disobedience or coup d’état!’ – Gubaz Sanikidze.”
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