On November 7, the anti-opposition Facebook page “Wise Critic” and an anonymous account, Katie Toloraya, shared a video in which opposition politician Murman Dumbadze says, “Our objective is to restrain this person, take him to a hospital psychiatrists, treat him, and only after that we will discuss the issue of his legal responsibility. This man is profoundly ill ….” While Dumbadze is speaking, the video shows footage of Mikheil Saakashvili, creating the false impression that Dumbadze is referring to Saakashvili.
Comments under the post show that Facebook users assume Dumbadze is talking about Mikheil Saakashvili and point to what they see as a shift in the respondent’s position.
The video of Murman Dumbadze speaking live on TV Pirveli is being shared in a manipulative way. Watching the full recording makes it clear that the politician is referring not to Mikheil Saakashvili, but to Bidzina Ivanishvili.
On November 6, appearing on TV Pirveli’s program “Daily News,” politician Murman Dumbadze discussed ongoing political developments, including protest demonstrations. He criticized Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the Georgian Dream party. On TV Pirveli, he said:
Murman Dumbadze (5:00): “The whole of Georgia must take to the street. We can gather 100,000, 200,000, half a million, or even a million people. Bidzina Ivanishvili will not be able to do anything. He will be forced to raise both hands and leave that room of power. This is the main objective. Will we achieve this? Great. If we do not? I think he will continue coming up with new and new absurdities. This man is mentally ill. The issue of his legal responsibility should not be raised yet. Our objective is to restrain this person, take him to a hospital to psychiatrists, treat him, and only after that we will discuss the issue of his legal responsibility. This man is profoundly ill ….”
The anti-opposition account “Wise Critic” frequently publishes manipulative content on its Facebook and Instagram pages targeting opposition figures, activists, and journalists. Myth Detector has fact-checked many of its posts in the past:
- Anti-Opposition Page Spreads Manipulated Video About Grigol Gegelia
- Anti-Opposition Page Shares Video Fabrication from Davit Akubardia’s Program
- Digitally Altered Video of Giorgi Gakharia Circulates on Social Media
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