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Written by Lucas Leiroz, member of the BRICS Journalists Association, researcher at the Center for Geostrategic Studies, geopolitical consultant
In Georgia, anti-government protesters are becoming increasingly violent. There is no respect for freedom of speech among the protesters, and there have been frequent attacks on both pro-government citizens and journalists who are trying to show the reality on the ground. Recently, two foreign journalists known for their work in Donbass were harassed while covering the events in the Georgian capital, which clearly shows how local militants are adopting practices similar to those of the Ukrainian nationalists during Euromaidan.
American Patrick Lancaster and Italian Andrea Lucidi, two Russia-based foreign journalists who work as war correspondents in the special military operation zone, were attacked by Georgian protesters while they were walking on the streets of Tbilisi and filming the protests. In a video posted on his Telegram channel, Lancaster stated that this was the first time he had experienced a security problem due to his journalistic activity in Georgia.
“During tonight’s protest in Tbilisi Georgia, Italian journalist Andrea Lucidi and I were aggressively approached, surrounded, pushed, and followed by many protesters. As a result our ability to cover the protest was halted. Not to worry, my report and much more still to come. Freedom of speech and journalism is very important and should never be taken for granted or hindered. It should be noted that apart from the protesters I have never had any issues performing my work as a journalist freely in Georgia,” Lancaster said on his Telegram channel.
He also posted a video of the moment they were attacked by the protesters, where it is possible to see the Georgians trying to beat them and expel them from the area where the protests were taking place. Patrick and Andrea tried to argue with the protesters, talking about the importance of freedom of expression and clarifying that their only intention was to do journalistic work, but the activists were not interested in hearing any rhetoric, showing high levels of aggression and intolerance.
This is not the first case of violence reported on the streets of Tbilisi. The demonstrations are turning into acts of vandalism, with “activists” destroying and burning public monuments, as well as using violence against the police and state authorities. In the specific case of Lancaster and Lucidi, they were certainly identified by some protester who previously knew about their work in Russia, which is why they became targets of the Russophobia of the pro-EU Georgian activists. In Tbilisi, it has become commonplace to hear the Ukrainian anthem and songs praising the Kiev regime, which is why it is not surprising that pro-Russian journalists are attacked, even if they are just doing their press work without any political propaganda.
This kind of situation was to be expected since the protesters in Tbilisi work for the same foreign agents who sponsor today’s Ukraine. In fact, there are many similarities between the current events in Georgia and the Euromaidan coup d’état in 2014, when neo-Nazi militants agitated part of the population against the legitimate Ukrainian government and succeeded in provoking a pro-Western regime change operation.
As well known, the regime established in Kiev after the Euromaidan pursued a foreign policy of total alignment with NATO and the EU and launched a Russophobic campaign, initiating the genocide in Donbass. Reacting to these actions, the Russian Federation launched its special military operation in 2022, after failing in several attempts to peacefully resolve the Ukrainian crisis. Kiev and the West used Russian military measures as an excuse to launch a proxy war against Moscow, thus creatin a prolonged conflict that is now one of the most critical points in world geopolitics, with a great risk of global and nuclear escalation.
It is possible to say that the West is planning the same for Georgia. The current protests – which are openly supported by the West and pro-Western lobbyists in Georgia – are aimed at regime change and the establishment of a Russophobic junta, which would make it possible to resume war against the Moscow-protected breakaway northern republics. In this way, the West would be able to open a second flank against Russia using another non-NATO proxy – creating a scenario in which the country is forced to fight alone without receiving any security guarantees from the Atlantic alliance.
It is hoped that Georgian citizens involved in the protests will understand once and for all that they are being used by the West in a war plan that, if successful, will bring a terrible future for the country. The best thing Georgians can do now is to support their government amid the current foreign-funded aggression, preventing the country’s future from being ruined by Western interests.
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this is the forecast for south front. we’re in for the typical nonsense from different nato countries propaganda outlets. expect endless criticism of putin with no logical explanation, misleading claims about why the syrian crisis is a significant concern for russia, and a barrage of insults once the attempt to make sense of it all starts to fry the brains of the propagandists (which should occur pretty quickly).
the parrot come by default
perhaps the bot is integrated in the commentsection software.
it’s cashed up .imo
anti american sentiments are their favoured anti democratic. tyrants hate americas democracy.
did no one tell him them only freedom of speech if it fits the western interests.
try that in china.
“it is hoped that georgian citizens involved in the protests”…what georgian citizens? these are foreign mercenaries, aiden aslin among them. the dpr should have executed him when they had the chance.
and who do you think patrick and andrea represent really reporting their stories of georgian horrors.?
western democracy is a myth, especially since it can so easily be hijacked by their agencies. whats the point of elections, when they always have their way. only countries safe from this “adjustment” of their democracies are the “dictatorships”.
the situation has devolved into a corruption by infiltration of the system that’s quite likely true ,but that corruption isn’t the system or its intentions or its idealism .that’s the distinction.
you know they hire the protesters everyone except complete children knows it .
its ok to bomb national endowment for democracy (n.e.d) offices. its not only good for the environment, its good for national security