On February 9, a Facebook user shared a video of photographer Mari Nakani, in which she appears to say: “The money has arrived, and more people are coming out. I really hope that 300,000 people will take to the streets again, as always, so…” The video is accompanied by a caption: “Do you still have USAID money, or have you already spent it?” and displays the TikTok account name georgia_first.
A manipulated video of photographer Mari Nakani is being circulated. In reality, she does not say the phrase “the money has arrived” and does not link the increase in protesters to money. In a comment to TV Pirveli, she actually said that “spring has arrived” and that she hoped more people would join the protests. The video was edited in a way that replaces the word “spring” with “money.”
On February 7, another protest took place in Tbilisi. One of the marches, which joined the demonstrators gathered on Rustaveli Avenue, was named “Freedom for Prisoners of Conscience.” Mari Nakani was among the participants in this march.
The video circulating on social media was cut out from TV Pirveli’s live broadcast (1:13:26). Watching the uninterrupted footage makes it clear that the photographer never says, “the money has arrived” or links the expected increase in protesters to financial reasons. Instead, she spoke about the problems faced by internally displaced persons, people fired from their jobs after the protests began, and expressed support for those detained during this period. Talking to the journalist, Nakani says (at 1:14:20):
“I have high hopes. Now that spring has arrived, more people are coming out. I really hope that 300,000 people will take to the streets again, as always, so…”
The TikTok account name georgia_first is visible in the video shared by the Facebook user. The account posted the video on February 9. georgia_first frequently publishes videos discrediting the Georgian opposition, the media, and the ongoing protests. It has also shared several videos about USAID funding and is known for supporting the ruling party, Georgian Dream.
Since the protests began on November 28, a number of fabricated videos have been spread regarding the demonstrations in Georgia. Myth Detector systematically verifies such posts.
About the source:
The account “Ani Peikrishvili” previously posted a manipulated video about the political party Lelo leader Badri Japaridze, which was fact-checked by Myth Detector. This account supports the Georgian Dream and is actively involved in the discreditation campaigns against the ruling party’s opponents.
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