Disinformation Campaign Targets Georgian President with False USAID Allegations
A wave of disinformation targeting Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili swept across social media platforms in late February 2025, falsely claiming she received $41 million from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to influence the 2024 elections. This narrative, originating from the X account "Peacemaker" and amplified by groups like "Anti-Maidan! Voice of the Nation!”, falsely attributed the discovery of this alleged transfer to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), purportedly led by Elon Musk. A thorough fact-check reveals these claims are entirely baseless and constitute a deliberate disinformation campaign.
The core allegation – that USAID directly transferred $41 million to President Zourabichvili – is unequivocally false. Official USAID documentation, publicly available on the USASPENDING website, clearly demonstrates that the funds were allocated to the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) program, a long-standing initiative supporting democratic development and electoral integrity in Georgia. There is no evidence whatsoever linking these funds directly to the Georgian president. Furthermore, the DOGE, despite being cited as the source of this “revelation,” has never published any information corroborating this claim, nor has Elon Musk commented on the matter.
The disinformation campaign appears to have originated from the X account "Peacemaker," known for disseminating anti-Western narratives, pro-Kremlin propaganda, and manipulated content. This account, active since 2015, has a history of discrediting Western leaders and spreading false information about the war in Ukraine. Its posts concerning Georgia often echo pro-Russian narratives, criticizing Western influence and portraying the Georgian government as resisting Western pressure. The account’s demonstrable history of spreading disinformation severely undermines the credibility of its accusations against President Zourabichvili.
The $41 million in question was indeed allocated by USAID, but not as a lump sum payment, nor for the purpose of influencing Georgian elections. Rather, it represents two separate grants awarded to CEPPS, a program operating in Georgia since 2000. These grants, totaling approximately $41 million, were disbursed over several years, supporting a range of activities focused on strengthening democratic institutions, promoting electoral integrity, and fostering citizen participation in political processes. The CEPPS website details its work with various stakeholders, including political parties, local government bodies, the Central Election Commission (CEC), and civil society organizations, all aimed at enhancing Georgia’s democratic governance.
CEPPS’s collaboration with the CEC is particularly noteworthy, as it directly counters the disinformation narrative portraying USAID funding as a clandestine attempt to manipulate elections. CEPPS has provided technical guidance and support to the CEC on various projects, including enhancing cybersecurity, improving electoral administration, and promoting inclusive elections. These efforts, documented on both the CEPPS and CEC websites, demonstrate a transparent and long-term commitment to bolstering the integrity of Georgia’s electoral processes, rather than the nefarious intent suggested by the disinformation campaign. Furthermore, Georgian media covered CEPPS program launch events, highlighting the open and public nature of this US government assistance.
The disinformation campaign’s attempt to link USAID funding to undue influence over President Zourabichvili ignores crucial legal and factual context. Georgian law explicitly prohibits the president from accepting gifts or services that could compromise their official duties. Furthermore, USAID funding is typically channeled through partner organizations, not directly to individuals, particularly not heads of state. The disinformation narrative therefore constructs a fictitious scenario that contradicts both legal frameworks and established USAID operating procedures. This deliberate misrepresentation of facts serves to undermine public trust in democratic institutions and international partnerships.
In conclusion, the allegations against President Zourabichvili regarding USAID funding are a fabricated narrative, part of a broader disinformation campaign orchestrated to sow discord and undermine democratic processes in Georgia. The evidence clearly demonstrates that USAID funding was allocated to the CEPPS program for legitimate democracy-building initiatives, implemented transparently over several years. The origin of this disinformation, the "Peacemaker" X account, has a documented history of spreading pro-Russian narratives and manipulated content, further discrediting the accusations. The campaign’s reliance on fabricated evidence and misrepresentation of publicly available information reveals its malicious intent to damage the reputation of the Georgian president and undermine trust in international partnerships. The ongoing efforts of fact-checking organizations are crucial to expose such disinformation campaigns and ensure the public has access to accurate information.