Tbilisi Launches Sabotage Probe into Coordinated Disinformation Campaign Targeting Russian Tourism
The Georgian State Security Service (SSSG) has officially opened a formal sabotage investigation into a sophisticated digital disinformation campaign aimed at damaging the nation’s tourism sector. According to Emzar Gagnidze, head of the SSSG’s Anti-Corruption Agency, authorities have identified a coordinated effort utilizing networks of fake accounts to propagate false narratives. These reports suggest that Russian tourists visiting Georgia are being subjected to a hostile, unsafe, and discriminatory environment, claims the government insists are entirely fabricated.
Government officials allege that the campaign is not merely a collection of isolated social media posts, but a structured operation directed from abroad. Gagnidze stated that the misinformation is being orchestrated by foreign actors in collaboration with domestic facilitators, all intent on undermining Georgia’s economic stability. The content in question features highly inflammatory, manufactured anecdotes, including baseless allegations that Georgian citizens have abandoned Russian travelers in forests or deliberately contaminated their food in local dining establishments.
The scale of the operation reportedly extends beyond basic social media activity. According to the SSSG, these falsified stories were systematically amplified by a foreign-registered online media outlet. This entity, which boasts an audience numbering in the millions, allegedly coordinated the distribution of these fabricated accounts to maximize their reach and impact on public perception. While the security agency has not yet publicly named the specific outlet, the involvement of such a large platform has prompted an aggressive response from the Georgian government.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has condemned the initiative as a direct act of sabotage against the state. Speaking to the press, the Prime Minister emphasized that the campaign relies on non-existent identities and entirely synthetic scenarios designed to portray Georgia as a dangerous destination for Russian nationals. He reiterated that Georgia remains an open and welcoming country for all international visitors, regardless of their nationality, and pledged that the government would take decisive action to protect its critical economic interests.
The gravity of the government’s stance was underscored by threats of legal retribution against those involved. Prime Minister Kobakhidze warned that any individuals or entities found to be orchestrating or supporting this disinformation campaign would face the full force of the law. He insisted that the SSSG investigation must be brought to its natural conclusion, sending a clear signal that the state will not tolerate what it deems an assault on national interests or stability.
As the investigation unfolds, the political stakes remain high, given that Russian citizens currently represent one of the largest demographics of international visitors to Georgia. The government’s swift response reflects an urgent desire to prevent long-term damage to the tourism industry, which remains a cornerstone of the national economy. With the SSSG now tasked with uncovering the origins of these digital attacks, the case highlights the growing challenges nations face in defending their economic reputations against sophisticated, cross-border information warfare.