According to the fact-checking platform Myth Detector, monitoring of the Facebook pages of television channels Imedi and Rustavi 2 revealed another 445 fake accounts. Operating in a coordinated manner, they like conspiratorial and anti-European posts by high-ranking political figures as well as a government-aligned philosopher, creating the illusion of public support for pro-government narratives.
As Myth Detector reports, the vast majority of the accounts were created over the span of just two days: 329 accounts were registered on August 25, 2026, and 109 on August 26. Another profile was created on July 20, 2026, and six in January and April 2024. Notably, all six of those earlier profiles stole personal data from real individuals registered on various social networks.
According to the organization’s findings, 316 of the 445 identified accounts have AI-generated profile pictures. In the remaining 129 cases, the avatars feature photos of celebrities, landscapes, posters, and pictures of other social media users.
“An analysis of reactions to Facebook posts on the Imedi and Rustavi 2 pages shows that the mobilization of suspicious accounts occurs primarily around the strategic messages of several high-ranking political figures (Irakli Kobakhidze, Shalva Papuashvili, Kakha Kaladze), and, by way of exception, key government statements (the Foreign Ministry’s statement in response to EU criticism regarding the process of banning parties), specific individuals (the presence of Bidzina Ivanishvili at a party event), and the conspiratorial, anti-Western talking points of a pro-government philosopher (Zaza Shatirishvili),” Myth Detector states.
According to Myth Detector, coordinated activity by fake profiles was also identified in promoting the following narratives:
- Endorsement of pro-government media posts featuring statements directed against the opposition and supporting a constitutional lawsuit to ban opposition parties was documented under posts by Irakli Kobakhidze (Rustavi 2, Imedi, Imedi) and Kakha Kaladze (Imedi).
- Fake accounts were also mobilized under a post by Rustavi 2, in which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia described critical assessments by EU representatives regarding the banning of opposition parties as interference in Georgia’s internal affairs and an attempt to pressure the Constitutional Court, while also warning of the potential negative impact of such statements on Georgia–EU relations.
- Inauthentic profiles used likes to support messages from Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili asserting that foreign interference, regardless of its source, is a hostile act aimed at curbing the people’s freedom and democracy (Imedi); that international institutions are being instrumentalized (Imedi); that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe infringes on sovereignty (Rustavi 2; Imedi); that the statement by the EU Delegation (regarding funding to support the population) effectively abolishes Georgian statehood (Rustavi 2); and that the evaluation of the 2024 parliamentary elections by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is flawed (Imedi).
- Fake accounts also systematically liked posts by Irakli Kobakhidze (Imedi), Shalva Papuashvili (Rustavi 2), and Kakha Kaladze (Rustavi 2) that juxtaposed protest dispersal methods in France and other European cities against Western criticisms of the Georgian authorities’ “anti-democratic actions,” and in several instances, against the imposed sanctions.
According to Myth Detector, along with high-ranking public officials, trolls mobilized in a coordinated fashion around posts by philosopher Zaza Shatirishvili, who promotes pro-government conspiracy ideology. Specifically, fake accounts systematically endorsed Shatirishvili’s posts concerning the influence of the “deep state” on political processes across different countries (Imedi, Rustavi 2); alleged efforts to establish oligarchic governance in Europe, the “capture of the country” via non-governmental organizations, and unfounded accusations labeling Ivanishvili an oligarch (Imedi, Rustavi 2); as well as the alleged censorship of conservative views and the imposition of “pseudo-liberal values” (Imedi).
Photo: Myth Detector
According to Myth Detector, the most recent Ivanishvili-related post to receive mass likes from fake profiles on the Facebook page of pro-government broadcaster Imedi concerned the attendance of Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder and honorary chairman of the Georgian Dream party, at a meeting of the party’s political council on October 17.
Photo: Myth Detector
