Law enforcement officials in Georgia launched a formal criminal investigation this week into what they describe as a coordinated campaign of “sabotage” targeting the nation’s tourism sector. The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) alleges that a network of foreign-controlled “bot accounts” has been systematically spreading fabricated stories on social media platforms. These posts, which frequently feature claims of food tampering and the mistreatment of Russian visitors, are being investigated as a deliberate disinformation effort designed to damage the Georgian economy by fostering an image of hostility toward tourists from Russia.
The SSSG highlights that these manufactured claims were further amplified by external media outlets, most notably the pro-Kremlin Telegram channel Mash. By presenting screenshots of these inflammatory social media posts to a wide Russian audience with warnings to avoid travel to Georgia, the campaign appears to be manipulating public perception from abroad. Georgian authorities maintain that the primary objective of this operation is to create a false narrative that Russian travelers are inherently unsafe in the country, thereby discouraging travel and undermining a vital pillar of the local economy.
Evidence gathered by investigators points toward a sophisticated, albeit flawed, effort to project a local Georgian perspective. Security officials noted that several of the accounts involved used Georgian names written in the Cyrillic alphabet, a curious error considering the Georgian language utilizes its own distinct, unique script. Furthermore, technical analysis of one prominent account—which claimed to have tampered with food served to tourists—revealed that it accessed X (formerly Twitter) via the Russian App Store, despite listing its location as the United States. While the account dates back to 2011, it remained dormant for over a decade before suddenly beginning its campaign of anti-tourist rhetoric on July 29.
The launching of the SSSG probe coincides with heightened political tensions within Georgia regarding the country’s relationship with its northern neighbor. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze recently leveled accusations against domestic “pseudo-liberal” opposition groups, suggesting they are working on behalf of foreign interests to manufacture anti-Russian sentiment. This political friction has been exacerbated by isolated real-world incidents, such as the recent arrest of a Georgian man who was fined for assaulting a Russian-speaking tourist at a hotel in the city of Telavi, an event that provided fodder for those looking to characterize the country as hostile.
Under current Georgian legislation, the charges of “sabotage” carry significant legal weight, with a maximum penalty of four years in prison for those found guilty. While the accounts behind the disinformation remain under close scrutiny, the SSSG is continuing its investigation into the individuals and potential financial networks funding these operations. Investigators are tasked with tracing the origins of these accounts to determine the degree of foreign state involvement and to dismantle the infrastructure supporting what the government characterizes as an economic hit job.
As the investigation unfolds, the incident underscores the precarious balance Georgia faces as it navigates the influence of Russian soft power and domestic geopolitical polarization. The government’s decision to elevate these social media posts to the level of a national security threat reflects a broader concern over the vulnerability of its tourism industry to foreign information warfare. By taking decisive legal action, Tbilisi is signaling that it intends to aggressively challenge any attempts to manipulate its international reputation through digital deception.