In March, the following trends were observed:
- Xenophobic narratives negatively portrayed all ethnic groups living in Georgia, offering Russian citizens as a counterbalance. Sezoni TV, which actively spread xenophobic messages, was simultaneously engaged in advocating for the interests of Russian tourists and discussing the negative aspects of Russophobia.
- Turkophobic messages came from the same source, emphasizing the threat of Turkey's strengthening in the region if Russia weakened. Marriages between Georgian women and Turkish men were still portrayed as unacceptable. Anti-Azerbaijani narratives condemned ethnic Azerbaijanis for disrespecting Georgia's territorial integrity, suggesting that only Russia could help return the disputed part of the historical David Gareji Monastery Complex located on the border between the two countries.
- A racist message appeared once, depicting people of color living in Georgia as criminals, while offering ethnic Russians as a counterbalance.
- The main theme of homophobic narratives was the ruling party's proposed bill to ban "pseudo-liberal values." The government openly expressed homophobic sentiments, including on the topic of same-sex marriage. "Georgian Dream'' and "Alt-Info/Conservative Movement'' justified the need for a law banning LGBT propaganda with identical messages, with the "Alt-Info/Conservative Movement" justifying violence to pass the law and promising physical assistance to the government to stop opponents of the law. In this context, the opposition was accused of promoting LGBT propaganda. Homophobic messages were also linked to the Eurovision music competition in Sweden, as it involves LGBTQ+ participants.
- Like far-right, conservative actors, "Georgian Dream '' accused the West of fighting against national identity and imposing homosexuality. Pro-Russian actors claimed that a corrupt West could not protect us, and that Georgia should choose a pro-Russian course.
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Xenophobic narratives depicted all ethnic groups, except Russians, negatively. The old message that if Russia is an occupier, all of Georgia's neighbors are occupiers, persisted. The sale of land to foreigners was portrayed as unacceptable.
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Ethnic Russians as a Counterbalance to Other Foreign Citizens
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Eka Naskidashvili, a journalist for Georgia and the World: "When Russians come here, they enter restaurants and cafes with such respect, sit down with such humility and grace, eat, thank, and spend money... It's impossible to enter a hotel room after people of color or Ukrainians leave, but Russians don't do this. I don't know why Russians have become so hated..."
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If Other Foreign Citizens' Presence in Georgia Is Acceptable, Then Russian Citizens' Presence Is Also
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Acceptable Nikoloz Mzhavanadze, TV Season host: "I don't understand, women in veils can walk around, but Slavic women shouldn't walk the streets of Tbilisi? Are you ok with the brothels on Agmashenebeli Avenue, made by Iranians and Turks? Are you ok with that? You should hand over your wives to those brothels and then you'll be satisfied... Sorry, but you've been impotent all your life, impotent..."
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Selling Land to Foreigners Is Unacceptable
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Eka Naskidashvili, a journalist for Georgia and the World: "I'm not engaging in Russian propaganda, I'm just saying... Is anyone protesting that hectares of land in Gori and Kaspi are sold to Iranians and Arabs?"
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If Russia Is an Occupier, All of Georgia's Neighbors Are Occupiers
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Nikoloz Mzhavanadze, TV Season host: "It's unfortunate that these traitorous Georgians remember only this 20% occupation of territory and don't remember, for example, that Tao-Klarjeti is an annexed ancient territory, that all territories, whether Lore or Hereti, have been taken by our neighbors. They remember only this and at the same time do everything to ensure that lands we can still return are also annexed and lost forever..."
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Turkophobic narratives established the idea that the Russia-Georgia conflict benefits Turkey, as weakening Russia in the region strengthens Turkey's influence. As in previous months, marriages between Georgian women and Turkish men were portrayed as unacceptable.
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Weakening Russia Will Strengthens Turkey in the Region
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Nikoloz Mzhavanadze, TV Season host: "If we don't want prosperity, nor Abkhazia, or Samachablo, if we want any of that, then just say that we should become a certain province of Turkey. We've already been brought under Turkey's influence... Our airports are under Turkey's influence... Turkey considers our land its territory. Turkish TV series and influence in Adjara aren't happening by accident... Today, the most satisfied party with what's happening is, of course, our neighbor Turkey, because it benefits the most from Russia's weakening here..."
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Marriage of Georgian Women to Turkish Men Is Unacceptable
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Nikoloz Mzhavanadze, TV Season host: "Every year, there are 700 marriages of Georgian women to Turkish men. I exclude the idea that 750 women in Georgia have gone crazy... I'm not against any ethnic group, but personally, I believe that if you're a Georgian woman, you should raise a Georgian for the homeland. Yes, there are exceptions for love, but with these statistics of marrying foreigners, I personally see this as a betrayal of the country... If you multiply foreign citizens, how is this Georgian, tell me."
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The main theme of anti-Azerbaijani messages was about the territory of the historical David Gareji Monastery Complex located on the border between the two countries. TV Sezoni claimed that its return was only possible through Russian intervention. The same author condemned ethnic Azerbaijanis living in Georgia for disrespecting Georgia's territorial integrity.
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Only Russia Can Return the Territories Taken by Azerbaijan
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Nikoloz Mzhavanadze, TV Season host: "No matter what maps you bring, no matter what you put down, Azerbaijan will not return it unless Russia intervenes here. Russia's issue is tied to Sokhumi-Tskhinvali and Gareji, and everything... They are now screaming like slaughtered pigs that Volski met and discussed the railway issue..."
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Ethnic Azerbaijanis Living in Georgia Do Not Respect Georgia's Territorial Integrity
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Nikoloz Mzhavanadze, TV Season host: "Many ethnic Azerbaijanis live in Kvemo Kartli. I have not heard from them that Gareji is Georgia. This is unfortunate because they are citizens of Georgia, and if they are citizens of Georgia, they should respect Georgia."
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A racist message appeared once, depicting people of color living in Georgia as criminals who disrespect Georgian women, while offering ethnic Russians as a counterbalance.
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Ethnic Russians as a Counterbalance to People of Color
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Eka Naskidashvili, a journalist for Georgia and the World: "A few years ago, black people, presumably Bangladeshis, chased a girl on Vazha-Pshavela Avenue, and boys protected her and were immediately arrested and fined 10,000 GEL... I don't recall any incident where Russians attacked anyone and were punished... The government should know this well because they know who rents bars, restaurants, and such places where it's a cafe in the morning and disgusting organizations in the evening. They also know well that people of color, whether Arabs or anyone else, come here for our Georgian women, which Russians don't need."
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Religious discrimination statements appeared in a homophobic context, accusing various denominations of condoning sin for supporting LGBTQ+ people.
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Various Denominations Are Becoming LGBTQ-Friendly
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Giorgi Akhvlediani, POSTV host: "As you can see, tolerance for sin has spread like a weed not only to Evangelical and Lutheran churches but gradually also to the Catholic world. First, the Pope's statement on blessing same-sex couples, then a lesbian Nativity scene in one of the Catholic churches in Italy. The propaganda of perversion is spreading so fast that I doubt it will take long before we see the next bout of LGBT schizophrenia from the Vatican."
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The main theme of homophobic messages was the ruling party's proposed bill to ban LGBT propaganda. The ruling party spread homophobic narratives, emphasizing the "dangers'' of LGBT propaganda. The Alt-Info Conservative Movement approved "Georgian Dream's' ' initiative and promised to create guarantees of violence if needed to pass the law. Pro-government POSTV claimed that LGBTQ+ people aim to dominate all spheres and impose a dictatorship on the majority. Homophobic messages were linked to the Eurovision music competition as it involves LGBTQ+ participants.
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LGBT Propaganda Should Be Banned by Law
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Mamuka Mdinaradze, Georgian Dream: "Even if they call the law against LGBT propaganda Soviet or anything else, we will push it through because it is the greatest challenge of our time... When this has infiltrated even the official structures were talking about mother and father is prohibited and only mention parents, we must oppose this and also tell our friends, if they have this serious problem, that this is not the right approach, it is unacceptable to Georgian society..."
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Shota Martinenko, Conservative Movement: "If a law banning pederasty and its propaganda is passed, and at the end of document it says that author is Vladimir Putin, we will accept this law anyway, as long as the propaganda of pederasty is banned, we will have no problem, what does it matter?"
Aluda Ghudushauri, Georgian Dream: "We are all obliged to oppose what is bad, and harmful to our children and future... The absolute majority in Georgia sees clearly that LGBT propaganda is bad... The truth is on our side, and this time we will protect our truth. Everything is done with the protection of universally recognized human fundamental rights guaranteed by our constitution, but we do not intend to turn a blind eye to the unbridled campaign we have faced."
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Violence Is Justified to Pass a Law Banning LGBT Propaganda
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Irakli Morgoshia, Conservative Movement: "If this is indeed a law that addresses the eradication of propaganda at its root, we, the Conservative Movement, are ready to do everything possible to make this law as effective as possible. That is, we will stand by our government and provide physical assistance to stop any protesters against this law."
Shota Martinenko, Conservative Movement: "As soon as this law has a real content, at that very moment we will not only support it, but if necessary, we will physically defend the idea of passing the law against Western forces."
Zurab Makharadze, Alt-Info host: "I don't know, we'll take care of that street, what more can we offer. You can take all the credit; we will give you the credit in the election year, and if someone decides to stop with Molotov cocktails on the street, we will stand up to ensure they don't dare to use Molotov cocktails."
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The Opposition Promotes LGBT Propaganda
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Irakli Kobakhidze, Georgian Dream: "Saakashvili's UNM and their satellites represent a dangerous pseudo-liberal force, for whom our children and youth are the main targets of various kinds of propaganda... The radical wing will actively fight for them, and we will actively fight for our youth, our children, and the spiritual and moral upbringing of our future generations..."
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Same-sex marriages are unacceptable
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Mamuka Mdinaradze, Georgian Dream: 'Allowing same-sex unions based on non-traditional lifestyle is unacceptable. Therefore, in 2017, we strengthened positions and wrote in the Constitution of Georgia that marriage is the union of a man and a woman. This issue will not be revisited.'
Goga Khaindrava, director: 'When you give recognition to same-sex unions, you practically drive the universe to self destruction. When you grant the rights of same-sex couples... to have children you are taking away... You are stepping on these rights... You don't ask the child, you if the want to have mothers with male genitalia ... Allowing same sex marriage is a step to abolishing humanity…
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Homophobic Messages Linked to Eurovision
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Giorgi Akhvlediani, POSTV host: "For decades, we have observed how the European culture of pederasty has been naturally promoted through Eurovision... Who could have imagined that such a high-profile music competition would turn into an aggressive conveyor belt for promoting LGBT ideology?... It is noteworthy that Georgia never won Eurovision... As for our group with a good chance of winning this year's Eurovision, it is worth noting that most of its members are non-traditional orientation, and the group's main message is that we are all equal, love wins. So, winning Eurovision by preaching to Europe how important it is to respect differences seems absurd..."
Data Gvasalia, Post-V journalist: 'During research, we encounter numerous articles with titles like how Eurovision became a homosexual event, Eurovision as a global Queer phenomenon, why LGBTQI+ community loves Eurovision and so on... From its stage, actively and annually, the dosage of propaganda is increasingly and more intensively transmitted.'"
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LGBTQ+ People Aim to Dominate All Spheres and Impose a Dictatorship on the Majority
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Guranda Bilikhodze, Postv Journalist: "In the modern world, LGBT people have adapted and changed almost all laws to their advantage, made us accustomed to this, and told us that whatever they want, be it adoption, gender change, marriage, or any other madness, will happen. They will write everything down on paper, and then the main LGBT lobby will ensure that these demands first become laws and then an integral part of life."
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Similar to the far-right and conservative actors, Georgian Dream portrays the West as a force fighting against Georgian identity, imposing homosexuality upon us. The focus is placed on the need to counter the Western onslaught by adopting laws to ban LGBT propaganda. The pro-government "Post TV" spread claims that in the West, children's genders are changed without informed consent and medical experiments are conducted on them. According to "Alt-Info/Conservative Movement," the corrupt West cannot protect Georgia, and the alternative is once again to choose the Russian course.
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The West Imposes Homosexuality/Pedophilia on Us
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Irakli Garibashvili, Georgian Dream: “There is an unbridled campaign, unbridled propaganda happening worldwide – in America, in Europe, they bring transgenders to kindergartens and schools and tell them that if you don't like your gender, you can change it.”
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Shalva Papuashvili, Georgian Dream: “The Prime Minister of Britain had to make a statement about something that is still considered truism and banality in Georgia. He had to say that a woman is a woman and a man is a man. We see that today, even in Britain, this is no longer banal, and statements from the Prime Minister are necessary. Our experience shows that what happens in Britain, the United States, or elsewhere often comes to Georgia with the support of foreign funding. Therefore, we need to form a position from now on about what Georgian society wants, whether it wants to allow this type of propaganda or to avoid it.”
Irakli Kadagishvili, Georgian Dream: “Various ways are still used to introduce foreign trends to our society, such as the well-known statement by the US Secretary of State not to use terms like 'mother,' 'father,' 'daughter,' or 'son.' This is unacceptable and discriminatory to the vast majority of the planet's population.”
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Georgia Must Combat the Western Onslaught by Passing a Law to Ban LGBT Propaganda
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Goga Khindrava, Director: “As soon as this law [on banning LGBT propaganda] comes on the agenda in the Georgian parliament… there will be a tsunami from Europe, from the United States, from these political circles, these democratic institutions, there will be outrage. A tsunami will come against our government… Today, more than ever, the Georgian society and all of us need to know that this is the red line. Beyond that, Georgia either exists or not. Today, no matter what happens, no matter who screams… local ambassadors, European deputies… we must endure it, because over these two thousand years, what empires have we endured against, what is the United States twelve thousand kilometers away…”
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Children in the West Undergo Transgenderization/Experiments to Change Gender
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Giorgi Akhvlediani, Post TV host: “It is certainly no coincidence that children are the main target of transgenderism today. The universal schizophrenia of sex change, which is considered the most progressive trend in the West today, mainly targets children… Mass transgenderization of children is the shortest path to turning sexual minorities into the majority. The main thing is for transgenderization laboratories to work at full capacity, and the fathers of pseudo-liberal ideology will ensure their uninterrupted operation despite numerous scandals…”
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The Corrupt West Cannot Protect Us
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Nikoloz Mzhavanadze, Season TV host: “Now I want to show you, let’s show this picture of Stoltenberg. The man waving the LGBT flag, will this man protect us...? This ideal and... this is the object to be protected for him and Europe, friends, these representatives of perversion and sodomy. They only protect these. That’s why... they don’t help us with Abkhazia, not with Abkhazia and Samachablo, they say you have become the color of the flag he’s holding, you have become like this. Who are they going to protect?... Their only object of protection is these sodomites.”
Zura Makharaidze, Post TV host: “...If the Third World War starts, why are we betting on pederasts?!”
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Russia as an Alternative to the West
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Nikoloz Mzhavanadze, Season TV host: “European values today are precisely sodomist values, and if we don’t want to perish and fall like Sodom and Gomorrah, then we must choose the country where this is banned. Now someone will say: Oh, this is again pro-Russian... But there is no other way, friends. It is banned only in Russia, in Belarus, and also in post-Soviet countries. Therefore, we must make a choice, and I certainly do not want the slogan ‘Let’s catch up and surpass the United States’ to mean this...”
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