Who Manipulates the McCain Institute’s Statement Regarding the Issue of Victim Demands?

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Reading Time: 4 minutes

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On December 27, in an interview with the publication “Georgia and the World,” political scientist Tamar Kiknadze stated that the McCain Institute’s report, prepared about the post-election period, spoke about the need for a sacrificial victim.

Additionally, on December 19, 2024, during the program “Imedi LIVE” on the TV channel Imedi, political scientist Irakli Gogava stated that the McCain Institute realized that the revolution in Georgia had failed and that escalation would not occur without a victim.

Irakli Gogava: “This is the McCain Institute, which assessed the existing situation, spent four or five days here, realized that the revolution had failed, and wrote in their report that there would be no escalation without a victim.”

მაკკეინის ინსტიტუტი

The information about the reference to a victim in the McCain Institute’s report is being circulated manipulatively, creating the impression that the McCain Institute is advocating for the need for a victim. In reality, the report expresses concern over the incidents of violence that occurred in Georgia and states that the result of this violence could be death, which would reduce the country’s potential for stability. This assessment is only part of a risk analysis and does not represent any kind of call or desire for the need for a victim.

The McCain Institute’s report on Georgia’s post-election period, published on December 16, 2024, emphasizes the regression of democratic processes in the country and the impact of violent incidents on these processes. The document states that the result of violence could be death, which would reduce the potential for stability in the country. However, this assessment is only part of a risk analysis and suggests that continued violence could be more dangerous for the country, as it would deepen the crisis further.

“The [McCain Institute’s] mission was alarmed at the scale and severity of official violence against citizens engaged in peaceful expression. It is a miracle that no one has yet been killed, but this risk will grow if the torture persists. In the awful event that there are deaths at the hands of the government’s thugs, the political environment could become even more volatile,” the document states.

Thus, the document does not say that a “sacrificial victim” is necessary, but rather explains that a victim, as a result of violence, poses a threat to solid stability. The statement does not contain any phrase or assertion that supports or justifies the use of a victim in a political context.

  • What else does the McCain Institute’s report say?

The report prepared by the McCain Institute addresses both the pre-election and post-election periods in Georgia. The document provides assessments of the pressure, manipulation, disinformation, and serious violations in the electoral process observed during the pre-election campaign. The document mentions that on the election day, there were serious irregularities, including ballot stuffing, multiple voting, voter intimidation, and statistical inconsistencies, while before that day, there was the abuse of state resources. It also notes informational campaigns aimed at intimidating voters with threats of war.

The report places particular emphasis on the post-election period, noting that after the elections, the Georgian Dream declared a four-year suspension of the process of EU integration, which led to widespread peaceful protests. The document states that groups were used against civil protests, attacking demonstrators. Many people were seriously injured, including with fractures and concussions. Protesters were often imprisoned on false charges. The report also highlights instances of violence against peaceful protests and pressure exerted on citizens by official forces. According to the McCain Institute’s assessment, the Georgian Dream is intentionally lowering the country’s democratic standards, aiming towards the formation of an authoritarian government. The Institute calls on the international community to use sanctions and other measures to support Georgia’s democracy.

About the Source

Irakli Gogava is the head of the “Georgian Development Laboratory.” From 1999 to 2004, he was a representative of the Citizens’ Union in the Georgian Parliament. The disinformation spread by Gogava has been repeatedly fact-checked by the Myth Detector in the past. Read more in the following materials:

Manipulative, conspiratorial, and misleading information spread by Tamar Kiknadze has also been fact-checked multiple times by the Myth Detector in the past. For more details, see the following materials:


The article has been written in the framework of Facebook’s fact-checking program. You can read more about the restrictions that Facebook may impose based on this article via this link. You can find information about appealing or editing our assessment via this link.

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Topic: Politics
Violation: Manipulation
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