Pro-Kremlin agents challenging the Anti-Turkish Sentiment in Georgia

Over the past few months in Georgia, the spread of narratives regarding the threat of “Turkish expansionism” has intensified, as a number of pro-Kremlin actors, including media outlets and far-right Facebook pages, have increasingly characterized Turkey as an emerging existential threat for Georgia. The spread of these anti-Turkish narratives across various online platforms has the potential to fuel anti-Turkish sentiment in Georgia, which would in turn distract the public’s attention from the looming threat of the Kremlin.

Turkey and Georgia have built a strong economic, diplomatic, and strategic relationship with one another. As Turkey is Georgia’s closest strategic partner in the region and the largest investor in its economy, the Turkish-Georgian relationship has attracted significant attention from pro-Kremlin actors

The DFRLab identified several recurring anti-Turkey narratives among pro-Kremlin Russian and Georgian media outlets and Facebook pages. Among other claims, these sources alleged that Turkey sought to conquer or fracture Georgia’s southwestern Adjara region, that Turkish investors are taking over the Georgian economy, and that Georgian cities have become overrun with Turkish tourists. These narratives all factored into a broader effort to fuel anti-Turkish sentiment in the country.

Source: https://medium.com/dfrlab/pro-kremlin-actors-fuel-anti-turkish-sentiment-in-georgia-4ee24aa17ceb