Georgia Opens Sabotage Probe Into False Claims of Mistreatment of Russian Tourists

Georgia’s State Security Service has launched a criminal sabotage investigation into a coordinated wave of false messages claiming Russian tourists were badly treated in the country.

The agency said the disinformation was spread through fake accounts registered abroad on social platform X and later by an overseas-registered online news outlet with a multi-million audience. The campaign, it said, was directed from a foreign state, supported from Georgian territory, and aimed to damage Georgia’s economic interests.

Among the false claims were that Georgians left tourists from Russia in the forest or intentionally contaminated food they ordered at Georgian restaurants.

The case falls under Article 318 of Georgia’s criminal code, which carries up to four years in prison. Investigators are working to identify the organisers, participants, funding sources and distribution mechanisms.