The Democracy Research Institute analyzed 465 cases of disinformation and propaganda spread by far-right groups via social networks and online media between August and October 2023. During the reporting period, the rhetoric of the leaders of Georgian Dream and the openly pro-Russian far-right political group Conservative Movement/Alt-Info was identical regarding certain issues. The observation reveals that the authorities use violent groups as a political tool in some cases.

The orchestrated rhetoric of Georgian Dream and far-right groups especially intensified in October, against the background of the statement released by the State Security Service, according to which, preparations were underway for the "violent overthrow of the authorities" at the USAID-supported event. The State Security Service's statement regarding alleged planning of destabilization and civil disorder became the basis for the Conservative Movement/Alt-Info to mobilize supporters and create a violent organizational union - Anti-Maidan. Despite the fact that the calls of the organizers contained signs of alleged crime, the law enforcement authorities did not respond appropriately to the said fact. On the one hand, the authorities’ inaction regarding the creation of the violent movement, and on the other hand, the emphasis of the State Security Service on the attempt by Western forces to destabilize the country, creates the impression that it may be in the authorities’ interest to use violent groups as a political tool.

The high political officials of the ruling party, together with the far-right groups, tried to cover up the direct influence of Russian agents in Georgian politics. The imposition of sanctions by the US Department of State on Georgia’s former Prosecutor General Otar Partskhaladze on September 14, 2023 was followed by sharply negative evaluations from both the authorities, the Georgian Dream satellite political union - People's Power and far-right groups.

During the reporting period, two main directions in the discourse of the far-right groups, around which interaction was the highest, were:

1. Anti-Western and anti-American rhetoric - especially intensified after the statement released by the State Security Service, which indicated the role of USAID in planning alleged destabilization and civil unrest. The renewed military conflict after the Hamas attack on Israel in October gave a new impetus to the anti-American rhetoric of openly pro-Russian far-right groups.
2. Organization of Anti-Maidan and pre-election preparations - the statement released by the State Security Service on September 18 regarding alleged destabilization became the basis for the creation of a violent organizational union - Anti-Maidan. In October, it became obvious that the Conservative Movement/Alt-Info was trying to mobilize supporters through regional meetings both to strengthen the Anti-Maidan movement and to earn political points before the elections.

Online and Social Media Discourse of Far-right Groups (August – October, 2023)