On October 18, the Georgian Public Broadcaster’s program “42° Parallel” hosted Kremlin propagandist Scott Ritter. Ritter, a former United Nations weapons inspector, discussed Georgia’s history, geopolitics, and identity issues in an interview with Giorgi Gvimradze. He also commented on the Russia-Ukraine war and U.S. positions. In the program titled “Georgia – the West’s Sacrificial Pawn,” the guest voiced several anti-Western messages:
- A pro-Western course weakens the country and leads to the loss of territories. “Enmity with Russia means Georgia’s death,” while stable relations with “best friend” Russia guarantee the country’s development;
- Partnership with the U.S. and the EU serves not Georgia’s interests but their geopolitical goals. Georgia is “only a chess piece on the map” for the U.S.;
- Georgia cannot join NATO until Abkhazia and South Ossetia return under its control. The desire for NATO integration destroys any chance of Russia returning these territories.
- Western aid is not for the Georgian people but for NGOs working to change the regime. The goal is to bring to power a government that would drag Georgia into a war against Russia.
- Georgia’s economic development was possible precisely because it did not join Western sanctions and maintained economic ties with Russia.
- Russia is winning the war in Ukraine on its own timeline, while Trump is trying to blame Europe for Ukraine’s defeat.
- What did Scott Ritter say about Georgia?
According to Ritter, Europe and the United States are not interested in Georgia as a state but only as a geopolitical instrument against Russia. He repeatedly claimed that Georgia is merely a pawn on the West’s chessboard, sacrificed in order to support Ukraine:
Scott Ritter: “If you think for a second that the EU cares about Georgia, you’re mistaken. If you think the United States cares about Georgia, you’re mistaken. You’re just a chess piece on the board that we move – and you know what happens to pawns? They disappear from the board. Georgia’s task was never to become a European nation or a good friend of America; your task was to sacrifice the Georgian pawn for our victory against Russia. Georgia’s role was to open a second front against Russia.”
“Enmity with Russia means Georgia’s death. But we [the U.S.] are ready to sacrifice Georgia for bigger goals. We are ready to sacrifice the Georgian pawn so that the Ukrainian knight can take its place.”
Ritter argued that Georgia’s integration into NATO is unrealistic until Abkhazia and so-called South Ossetia return to its control. Moreover, the desire for NATO membership destroys the possibility of Russia allowing their return:
Scott Ritter: “It’s impossible to do this [return Abkhazia] by force. Joining NATO won’t bring it back. NATO is a poison pill. Georgia can never join NATO until Abkhazia is part of Georgia, but by pursuing NATO membership, you’re guaranteeing that Russia will never allow South Ossetia and Abkhazia to return to Georgia.”
Ritter insisted that territorial integrity could only be restored through diplomatic relations and mutual understanding with Russia.
Scott Ritter praised the ruling Georgian Dream party’s actions, which, according to him, protect the country’s sovereignty from external influence. He also repeated Georgian Dream’s propaganda narratives, claiming that Western aid goes not to the Georgian people but to NGOs seeking regime change, aiming to install a government that would drag Georgia into a war against Russia.
Scott Ritter: “USAID’s goal was not to help Georgians; it aimed to destroy Georgia. The National Endowment for Democracy wasn’t about helping Georgia. It was about destroying Georgia, destroying the Georgian Dream, and replacing it with a government ready to drag Georgia into a war with Russia. Even if that destroyed Georgia, that was fine, because you were a pawn ready to be sacrificed. But the Georgian Dream refused to be a pawn.”
In this context, he also praised the so-called “foreign agents” law, describing it not as “pro-Russian” but as “pro-Georgian” and necessary to defend Georgia’s interests.
Ritter claimed that Georgia’s recent economic growth and stability were the results of the Georgian Dream’s policies toward Russia and that the economy showed growth specifically because the country did not join Western sanctions and maintained trade ties with Russia. He concluded the interview by emphasizing that Georgia’s future lies in peaceful relations with Russia because “enmity with Russia means Georgia’s death.”
Scott Ritter: [56:46] “Today, Georgia’s economy is doing quite well – I think you’ve had about 10% growth in two years; maybe it’ll reach 12%. Why? Because you didn’t impose sanctions on Russia. You didn’t join the wave of economic suicide that Europe pushed you toward. As a result, you have a healthy economy thanks to Russia. Russia has not abandoned you, and you have not abandoned Russia.”
“Your best friend is your northern neighbor, because that best friend cares about you because what happens to Georgia happens to Russia too. You are connected – historically, geographically, and economically. But your European and American friends tell you to turn your back on your Russian neighbors, to make Russia your enemy, even though enmity with Russia means Georgia’s death.”
- What did Scott Ritter say about Ukraine?
In his interview with Giorgi Gvimradze, Ritter discussed the war in Ukraine and U.S. policy. He argued that Trump’s advisers do not understand Russia’s political logic and fail to realize that Putin’s regime will not back down. According to Ritter, Russia is slowly winning – something the West fails to see because Western strategy values short-term military gains, while Russia’s is based on long-term objectives.
Scott Ritter: “They know nothing about Russia; they don’t understand how Russia, Vladimir Putin, or the Russian government work. From the start, they misunderstood Russia. Russia doesn’t back down. Russia stubbornly refuses to back down. Russia has a plan, a goal, a mission, and they stick to it. They clearly express their aims and haven’t deviated one bit. We in the West don’t know how to read Russia. That’s why, when things don’t go according to our timeline, we say Russia is weak, that it’s failing, and that this weakness will lead to political problems. But the fact is, Russia is not weak. Russia is winning, just on its own schedule.”
Ritter said Trump’s disappointment with Ukraine stems from these failed expectations: he couldn’t reach a quick deal, couldn’t force Putin to compromise, and ultimately reduced U.S. involvement while shifting responsibility to Europe. According to Ritter, Trump is trying to create a politically safe “exit strategy from Europe” so that Ukraine’s defeat is blamed on Europe, not the U.S.
In this context, Ritter also referred to Trump’s comments about transferring Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. According to him, this was a symbolic gesture rather than real military aid. Producing and operationalizing Tomahawks would take years, so Ukraine couldn’t receive them before 2028. Ritter claimed Trump’s idea is for the U.S. to sell weapons to European NATO members, who would then deliver them to Ukraine.
- What do we know about “42° Parallel”?
“42° Parallel” is an analytical program on Georgian Public Broadcaster that covers international affairs and global events. According to Media Development Foundation monitoring, the program “42° Parallel” often uses a critical, negative tone toward Western countries and institutions. The program’s editorial policy is often based on skepticism toward neoliberal economics and Western politics.
Myth Detector has previously identified instances where the program’s analytical narratives aligned with Kremlin and pro-Russian talking points. An example of this is a 2018 report that covered events in Syria and the Skripal poisoning case. In the program, analyst Shota Tkelidze described the U.S. bombing of Syria as a continuation of the “aggressive anti-Russian campaign” sparked by the Skripal poisoning incident. The program noted that the West often makes important international decisions without evidence, which poses a threat to the international order. These messages were in line with the positions of pro-Kremlin media, which accused the West of making decisions without evidence and fueling an anti-Russian campaign. Read more in:
In 2018, the public broadcaster’s “42° Parallel” aired a report titled “The Anatomy of the EU’s Systemic Crisis,” claiming that Greece’s economic collapse was entirely caused by the policies of EU institutions (European Commission, European Central Bank, IMF). The report claimed that the EU policies led to Greece’s economic crisis and downfall of the country, while omitting key context. In reality, Greece’s crisis stemmed largely from domestic issues such as populist economic policy, massive tax evasion, budget overspending, and corruption. Read more:
The program’s current host, Giorgi Gvimradze, formerly head of GPB’s news division, also participated in a May 18, 2025, conference titled “Modern Fascism, Pro-Western Far-Right Forces, and the Impact of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict on Georgia.” The event was organized by the Socialist Platform, which is linked to the Kremlin-aligned party Solidarity for Peace and is used for spreading anti-Western, pro-Russian narratives. The conference discussed the role of Western institutions and the United States, their influence on international processes, and the “crisis of the liberal system.” It was emphasized that conservative and far-right forces were expanding and that the Georgian government was under the international pressure to join the anti-Russian coalition and become a “testing ground” for the West’s geopolitical interests. It is also noteworthy that the program’s host, Giorgi Gvimradze, has also appeared several times on the political party Solidarity for Peace’s show “Millennial,” where he discussed the role of the media, “wokeism,” and the influence of non-governmental organizations.
During the interview with Scott Ritter, Giorgi Gvimradze presented the alleged attempt to change the Georgian government under Western pressure as an established fact, framing his question accordingly:
Giorgi Gvimradze: “As you may know, we recently had local elections, and at the same time, another attempt at a coup, so to speak. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, relations between Georgia and the EU, and Georgia and the U.S., have significantly worsened. The West is exerting serious pressure on the Georgian government. What do you think is the goal of this pressure? We see attempts to change Georgia’s government – what’s behind this? What’s the idea?”
By framing the question this way, Gvimradze presented Western interference in Georgia’s internal politics and regime-change attempts as facts, stripping the question of neutrality and reinforcing a narrative portraying the West as a hostile force.
- Who is Scott Ritter?
Scott Ritter was a leading UN weapons inspector from 1991 to 1998. After leaving the position, he became an outspoken critic of the U.S. government and policies and frequently appeared in Russian propaganda media, especially regarding Ukraine.
Russian media often presents Ritter as a Western expert, using his statements to reinforce pro-Russian narratives concerning the war in Ukraine. For example, after the war began, Ritter claimed the Bucha massacre footage was staged. He frequently appears on Russian state TV, and Russian embassies worldwide share his comments regarding various topics on social media.
His views concerning Georgia, Scott Ritter first expressed in March 2023, on Maestro TV’s program “Unknown World News.” In his interview with pro-government media, he defended the “foreign agents” law, presented it as an analogue of the U.S. FARA, accused the U.S. of trying to open a “second front” in Georgia and creating a crisis against Russia, and claimed the U.S. was imposing alien values on Georgians, especially those that the local population considers unacceptable, such as respect for diversity and loyalty to the LGBTQ+ community. The segment, in which Ritter’s speaks about opening the “second front” was also covered by Russian propaganda outlets.
It is also noteworthy that Ritter has been involved in several online sex scandals involving minors. In 2001, he served six months in prison. In 2009, he was arrested again on similar charges and, in 2011, convicted on six counts. He was released on parole in 2014.
Myth Detector has published multiple materials analyzing Ritter’s disinformation and manipulative claims.
Read more:
- Kremlin Propagandist Scott Ritter Defends the “Foreign Agents Bill” in the Pro-Government Media
- Kremlin Expert Questions the Blame of the Russian Soldiers in the Bucha Massacre
- 3 Ukraine-related Disinformation Disseminated by Russian Propaganda Platforms
- The Document Allegedly Depicting the Losses of Ukraine is Fabricated
