In July and August, the following trends emerged:

• Xenophobic messages equated the arrival of migrants with the loss of national identity, portrayed foreign nationals as agents, and accused them of illegal activities. The Alliance of Patriots discussed the need to ban the sale of land to foreigners, while Alt-Info/ Conservative Movement promised to prohibit surrogacy for them. 
• Turkophobic narratives emphasized the danger of cultural and religious expansion coming from the neighboring country and presented Russia as a protector of identity in contrast to Turkey. The opinion that if Russia is an occupier, then Turkey is too, was being promoted, as well as that Russia returned to us regions seized by Turkey. 
• Armenophobic narratives, claiming that Armenians appropriate the cultures of various countries, were spread by the Alliance of Patriots. As in previous months, Armenian identity continued to be portrayed negatively. Additionally, there were messages that Armenians have neither the moral nor legal right to participate in elections in Abkhazia. 
• Islamophobic messages viewed the Islamic religion as a threat. According to the Conservative Movement, the adoption of Islam by Georgians led to severing ties with their compatriots, while the Russian Empire preserved our religious identity. 
• Homophobic narratives, including those from the ruling party, Georgian Dream, continued to discuss the need to ban LGBT propaganda and same-sex marriage, citing, this time around, the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris as evidence of the existence of propaganda. The international sporting event became one of the main topics of homophobic messages. Conservative and far-right actors condemned the participation of LGBTQ+ individuals in the Olympics and accused the organizers of mocking religious scenes. In August, messages emerged asserting that Georgian Dream needs a constitutional majority in the elections to ban LGBT propaganda. Alt-Info/the Conservative Movement continued to make extremist statements, justifying violence against LGBT propaganda/LGBTQ+ individuals. Opposition parties were discredited for their support of the LGBT community, and by emphasizing the sexual identity of opposition politicians. 
• The Olympic Games also became one of the main topics of anti-Western messages, tied to traditional narratives that the West is attacking national identity, religion, and imposing homosexuality on us. The ruling party also spread homophobic narratives in an anti-Western context, which accused the Venice Commission, because of its negative opinion on the anti-LGBTQ+ draft law, of imposing homosexuality. As a counterbalance to the corrupt West, Russia was traditionally presented as the protector of identity, along with the Olympic Games held there.

Xenophobic messages equated migrants with the loss of national identity, portrayed foreign nationals as agents, and accused them of illegal activities. The Alliance of Patriots placed emphasis on the need to ban the sale of land to foreigners, while Alt-Info/the Conservative Movement focused on the need to prohibit surrogacy.

United Neutral Georgia: “As regards the issue of migrants, they have already succeeded in undermining nationality in various European countries, since the mixing of peoples through uncontrolled migration ends precisely with the disappearance of national identity.”

Giorgi Kardava, the Conservative Movement: “First, they are making us, Georgians, weak. At the same time, a liberal immigration policy is being introduced. People are brought here from some strange countries; what do they want, really? Why do you come from the other side of the world? What do you have to do here? Why do you not stay in your own country? We do not have any cultural, religious, historical, or political connections. Why do we let such people into our country? When we talk about this, it should in no way be considered racism, Nazism. When liberals start calling you fascists or Nazis in regard to this natural situation, just ignore them.”   

Lazare Jorbenadze, lawyer: “Saakashvili, Margvelashvili, and Zourabichvili granted Georgian citizenship directly, by way of exception, to 82,636 foreigners, most of whom were Turks, Iranians, and Arabs! Not to mention the Chinese, Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, and Africans; i.e., Saakashvili, Margvelashvili, and Zourabichvili introduced 82 thousand enemies and agents into the country.”

Beso Barbakadze, author of the article: “Also, no one hides that at night, especially on the outskirts, underage girls agree to oral sex for 50 lari. Previously, Aghmashenebeli Avenue and the Asians inhabiting it used to be ‘popular’ in this respect, but after several Asians got into trouble and some even into jail for having relations with minors, they all behave in a more restrained manner there now.”

Davit Tarkhan-Mouravi, the Alliance of Patriots: “The Georgian Dream gave a promise, even adopted some laws, but in reality, it has not banned the sale of lands, although it claims that it has. It has deceived the entire country once again, as in reality, these lands are being sold one after another. Today, we see that whole villages are owned by foreigners. Today, we see that our farmers do not have arable lands and they rent them from others, and these others are Iranians, Turks, Arabs… The country will completely disappear in 10 years, and this is exactly what the Georgian Dream wants. They only say nice words that they are patriots, but in reality, they want this country to disappear. Therefore, think about forthcoming elections, go to the polling stations, and vote for the Alliance of Patriots and the united patriotic opposition.”

Zura Makhadaze, the Conservative Movement: “…It is understandable, it is a personal topic for those who cannot have a child; besides, as I have learned, it can be regulated, but when it is turned into a business and some people arrive from abroad and here use your countrymen as bio-factories, we will put an end to it; I can firmly promise you that.”

Turkophobic narratives were mostly spread by Alt-Info/the Conservative Movement and Season TV. They emphasized the threat of cultural and religious expansion coming from the neighboring country. The old messages that if Russia is an occupier, then Turkey is also an occupier continued to appear. The opinion that Turkey represents a much greater threat to Georgian identity than Russia was promoted. As in previous months, the return of Georgian lands seized by Turkey was portrayed as an achievement of Russia.

Giorgi Kardava, the Conservative Movement: “Turkey will start cultural and religious expansion to firmly establish itself. If it is not established firmly, then what’s the interest. Do you know why America is turning you into pederasts? Because it is part of its liberal ideology, and in order for you to naturally support it, it turns you into pederasts. It pays money for this, billions, so that there is an ideological bond between you and it; so that you will be willing to ally with the West. Turkey will act in a similar way too. Byzantine acted similarly, etc.”

Nikoloz Mzhavanadze, presenter of Sezoni TV: “This must be strictly suppressed; this is the incitement of interethnic discord; for example, this Gorgiladze, Tebidze of Lelo, Levan Antadze – all of them must be arrested, because if you do not like the government of Russia, what has an ordinary citizen done wrong to you?! An individual arrives here to spend money, who gave you the right to do that? Turkey took away Tao-Klarjeti, why are you going to Turkey then and why do you not raise your voice?!”

Zurab Makharadze, the Conservative Movement: “One Georgia was occupied by Russia, the second Georgia… Let’s talk directly about the occupation: one was occupied by Russia, the other was occupied by Turkey. Georgians do not exist there [in Turkey] anymore.”

Zurab Makharadze, the Conservative Movement: “I have been to historical lands of Georgia, which are now under Turkey’s control, and I have seen everything myself; I can clearly see [the difference with the situation] when Russia exercised control here - I speak Georgian, I am a Christian, I have preserved the culture, while there are only ruins left.”

Nikoloz Mzhavanadze, presenter: “… As if we regained Ajara and Guria on our own, without Russian soldiers… In Ajara and Guria today, there should be a big monument to those Russian soldiers who fought in the war against Ottomans. But where is all this? On the contrary, it has disappeared. All this is hidden and destroyed in the central museum of Ajara. They are falsifying the history.”

Giorgi Kardava, the Conservative Movement: “Georgia actually ended at Borjomi, and actually, beyond Borjomi was Turkey, it was called Akhaltsikhe pashilaki. From there, the Meskhetian Turks were removed… and [Russia] started settling Georgians there… Let me say more: when Abkhazians were removed in the 1860s, on religious grounds, Georgian settlements gradually emerged on the territory of Western Abkhazia.”

Armenophobic narratives, claiming that Armenians appropriate the cultures of various countries, were spread by the Alliance of Patriots. As in previous months, Armenian identity was portrayed in a negative light. Additionally, there were messages that Armenians have neither the moral nor legal right to participate in elections in Abkhazia.

Davit Tarkhan-Mouravi, the Alliance of Patriots: “Armenians have such a property - to magnify themselves. That’s why they tell us lies, that they are the first Christian country. This is not true. Moreover, various birds, insects, or animals, that are endemic to the Caucasus, are called Armenian in Armenian sources. For example, there was a Caucasian tiger, which no longer exists, as Caucasian tiger became extinct and not so long ago, but in Armenian sources it is called Armenian tiger. They have these properties. How should we treat it? Calmly, sometimes with humor or understanding. It’s good that they praise and exalt themselves. Perhaps we can learn that from them too. They have gone to such extremes in this self-glorification that in a museum – there is a museum in the central square of Armenia – you will hear that the British nation is descended from Armenians.”

Jaba Khubua, journalist of Asaval-Dasavali: “In short, Ilia, as a brilliant publicist and a powerful polemicist, with his work ‘Speaking Stones’ left nothing standing from еру group of Armenian scholars who were busy trashing Georgians. Similarly, our work ‘Speaking Dung’ once again exposes a group of Armenian Lomjarias, whose main craft is throwing feces at the Georgian state and harming the country’s interests.”

Jansug Adleiba, Abkhaz activist: “Armenia supports the Western policy that threatens Abkhazia’s national security, as a large Armenian diaspora lives in Abkhazia, which is under the influence of the criminal authority Ruben Tatulyan. Tatulyan is an assistant to President Aslan Bzhania; he holds a diplomatic passport, and is a citizen of the Republic of Abkhazia. This year, Armenian representatives supported a UN resolution regarding refugees. In addition, Armenia has not recognized Abkhazia’s independence for many years, while the influence of the Armenian community in Abkhazia continues to grow, which is extremely unacceptable for the Abkhazians! People of Armenian origin do not have the moral or legal right to participate in elections or hold high positions in the government! Everything must be reciprocal; we have no other option.”

Islamophobic messages viewed Islam as a threat to Georgian identity. According to the Conservative Movement, Georgians lost their connection with their compatriots after adopting Islam, whereas the Russian Empire preserved our religious identity.

Davit Tarkhan-Mouravi, Alliance of Patriots: “If we break away from Orthodox Christianity, we will become different people, and Turkey is an example of this. There are Georgians living in Turkey who are significantly different from Muslim Georgians living in Adjara. Muslim Georgians living in Adjara are Georgians, but the Georgians living in Turkey are genetically Georgian but by their way of thinking are more Turkish than Georgian… Therefore, I do not think we should abandon Orthodoxy and become different Georgians... If we do not do something, the Georgians living in Turkey will disappear within one or two generations...”

Shota Martinenko, Conservative Movement: “Turkey conquered a large part of Georgia’s territory populated by Georgians, right? Russia conquered it as well. On the territory conquered by Turkey, Georgians became either Turkified or only a few remained. They changed their religion, their mentality and identity have, let’s say, been greatly shaken, and their connection to Georgians is no longer that strong... On the territory under Russia, in Georgia, which came under Russian rule, we, the entire ethnic group, survived, multiplied, maintained mentality and patriotism, and regained independence. Those who cannot see the difference, who cannot distinguish these threats, should be hit right in the face, not spoken to.”

Homophobic narratives, including those spread by the ruling party, Georgian Dream, portrayed the banning of LGBT propaganda as a national cause. As evidence of such propaganda, they cited the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris. International sporting events were a central topic in homophobic messaging. Conservative and far-right actors accused the organizers of the Olympic Games of being biased towards the LGBT community and mocking religious scenes. In August, messages emerged suggesting that Georgian Dream and its affiliated forces were promoting the idea that winning a constitutional majority in the elections was necessary to ban LGBT propaganda. The Alt-Info/Conservative Movement spread extremist statements justifying violence against LGBT propaganda/LGBTQ+ individuals. Opposition parties were discredited for supporting the LGBT community, with an emphasis placed on the sexual identity of opposition politicians.

Giorgi Kardava, Conservative Movement: “Three years ago, Georgia was facing the threat of a full-scale gay pride. Back then, we said that within a few years, such things would be completely banned in Georgia, and they would refuse to come out into the streets themselves, and that is what happened; it is a fact. We are making a similar prediction - in five years, there will be no Grigoriadis on screens; I am telling you this with full confidence.”

Giorgi Sosiashvili, Georgian Dream: “Our team will never allow same-sex marriage in the country, we will never allow the propaganda of immorality.”

Mamuka Mdinaradze, Georgian Dream: “Pseudo-liberals closely followed the opening ceremony of the Olympics, and they still find the question relevant: where did Georgian Dream get this law to ban LGBT propaganda?! Is this a relevant issue and problem today?!... No to the Russian law!!!”

Giorgi Akhvlediani, anchor at Post TV: “This will be the most colored, the most LGBT, and therefore the most immoral Olympics in history. Who cares about gay, lesbian, and bisexual athletes? Most of them may compete and return to their home countries without anyone knowing their sexual orientation… Men who transitioned into women, who were worthless in male competitions and now try to win Olympic medals by oppressing women.”

The Patriarchate: “We, on our part, join the general outrage and sorrow caused by the blasphemous performances [at the opening of the Paris Olympics], which turned the festive opening into an insult to human dignity and propaganda of LGBT+ ideology.”

Mamuka Mdinaradze, Georgian Dream: “My reaction when I first saw the poll conducted by GORBI was that so many espionage parties should not pass the threshold. I am telling you straight that this will be a catastrophe… Although we say that we have the resources for a constitutional majority, this chance will be killed, let me say straight, by the failure of every five voters to show up. Therefore, everyone needs to go to ensure that those parties that struggle to clear the electoral threshold lose this chance, and we are given the chance to get a constitutional majority and, for example, not only pass a law against LGBT propaganda, which we will do in the fall, but also enshrine all this in the constitution.”

Zurab Kadagidze, People’s Power: “What will happen if we get a constitutional majority? LGBT propaganda will be prohibited in Georgia by the constitution.”

Irakli Martinenko, Conservative Movement: “Folks, if needed, let’s smash the faces of those leading us towards this, there is no problem with that because they will go to any lengths, and, if necessary, you should crack their heads open.”

Zurab Makaradze, Conservative Movement: “Those who do not think that those who propagate that [LGBT] deserve to be destroyed... What I do not understand, guys, is this: you see this, you recognize it as propaganda, and I still have to explain to you why we need to destroy them? Do I still need to explain why it’s necessary to fight against this?”

Shota Martinenko, Conservative Movement: “Why is homosexuality abnormal? ... It is a perversion; it is a disorder. If after explaining this, someone, despite that, says that it [the explanation] is a perversion, a disorder, or something like that, and they have the right to explain to children that homosexuality is normal, then they do not recognize convincing arguments, and there is a need to simply regularize a normal environment for them by force. Anyway, it is being regularized by force.” https://www.myvideo.ge/?video_id=4246569

Shota Martinenko, Conservative Movement: “Whoever has Gvaramia in their ranks - the UNM uses him as a TV organizer, but they will not bring him into their party because he is a miserable faggot, a ridiculous, disgusting creature who was a very aggressive spreader of liberalism and pederasty. He was brought into [another party], and he suddenly changed his image and behavior, and some people have forgotten that. We must not forget that.”

Grisha Oniani, Society Stalin: “Are you, people, the opposition? Are you people and individuals when you support liberal LGBT and send all kinds of letters and all kinds of messages to America and Europe in defense of them?!”

Jaba Khubua, journalist for Asaval-Dasavali: “This will be the political party [Freedom Square] that will never support the banning of LGBT propaganda in Georgia or the creation of a legal framework to protect family values! This will be the party that will always support holding LGBT prides in Georgia, the legalization of same-sex marriage, the right for gay couples to adopt children, and the establishment of all kinds of neo-liberal madness and filth.”

One of the main themes of anti-Western narratives was the Olympic Games, which led to the reactivation of old messages claiming that the West is fighting against national identity, family, religion, and imposing homosexuality. The ruling party also spread homophobic messages in an anti-Western context, accusing the Venice Commission of imposing homosexuality due to its negative conclusion on the anti-LGBTQ+ bill. In contrast to the corrupt West, Russia, portrayed as the protector of identity, and the Olympics previously held there were offered as alternatives.

Mamuka Mdinaradze, Georgian Dream: “They tell us to remove even the provision included in the constitution in 2017; apparently, we have to legalize same-sex marriage. Therefore, all recent recommendations of the Venice Commission are unacceptable for Georgia.”

Georgian Patriarchate: “We deeply regret certain scenes staged during the opening of the Olympics in France and agree with the statement of the Ecumenical Patriarchate... It acknowledges the right to faith and respects religious symbols... For our part, we join in the general outrage and sadness caused by the blasphemous performances, which turned the celebratory opening into an insult to human dignity and propaganda for LGBT+ ideology.”

Giorgi Akhvlediani, host of Post TV: “A transgender 'drag queen' with the Olympic torch - every generation has its symbols. The face of Western civilization today is a gender-confused man transformed into a woman, simultaneously representing a new society, a society of identity-erased mankurts that transnational corporations and their ruling oligarchic families are so persistently trying to create. The transgender torchbearer, turned into a symbol of perversion, is just one story of the Olympics.”

Irakli Martinenko, Conservative Movement: “If you ask me, I do not want to join NATO or the European Union even without the threat of war because joining the EU means yielding Georgian identity.”

Nana Kakabadze, United Neutral Georgia: “...If joining the European Union forces me to renounce my homeland, values, and traditions, then why would I need to join?!”

Elizbar Javelidze, People’s Assembly: “Bidzina is a very influential figure, so is it surprising that they want to kill him? There is a great struggle going on here. Just as they are perverted, they want to pervert us too! Should we join that Europe, where a woman is a man and a man is a woman? They want human degradation.”

Gocha Tevdoradze, Christian Democrats: “When you are heading towards the European Union, sure, you should go because the youth wants it too, but you should also know that there are things there that are unacceptable for the mentality and history of your country, such as LGBT propaganda. You are a good leader when you can maneuver in such a way that you can actively continue the path towards the EU and, at the same time, insure your country against these matters.”

Irakli Gogava, Georgia Development Laboratory: “Today, in the United States of America and Europe, a process of de-Christianization and, in general, de-religionization is underway. Imagine, not a month goes by in Europe without a church building being sold at auction. In France, the number of believers who regularly attend church and take communion has dropped to around 9%, and in Germany to 11%, while in little Georgia, the number of such believers is nearly 40%. That is why the Georgian Orthodox Church is the main target of the aggressive globalists.”

Zurab Kacharava, Georgia and the World: “This is not the first attack on the Georgian Church. The Patriarchate criticizes liberal values, opposes LGBT prides, and supports the preservation of traditional values and family life. At the same time, the high authority of the Church among the population is the main problem for the West. The primary task of Western nongovernmental organizations in Georgia is to weaken the position of the Georgian Orthodox Church, to implant foreign values, so that ultimately, they can subjugate the country not only on an economic but also on a mental level.”

Vato Kizikurashvili, United Neutral Georgia: “What Europe was built on, the Europe that everyone respects and what we admire – beautiful architecture, literature, etc., - was built on Christian values... but today it no longer embodies that, and this is what troubles the population of Europe itself, especially in small towns where people are very conservative and think very sensibly; however, the problem is that the system has not allowed a large part of the population to express their position.”

Giorgi Akhvlediani, host of Post TV: “A few days ago, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill prohibiting schools from informing parents about their children’s gender identity. In other words, the school administration and teachers, who find out that a male student perceives himself as a girl, wishes to be addressed as a girl, and wants to use the girls’ restroom, must not inform the child’s parents about it under any circumstances. Do you want to know the reason? The parents might not like this perverted desire of their child and could even oppose the process of a child's transgenderization, thereby harming the child’s psyche and causing the LGBT community to lose another worthy transgender person.”

Georgia First and Foremost: ”Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Assembly Bill 1955, which provides for an outrageous and unprecedented step, encouraging schools to lie in order to conceal from parents the truth about their children’s gender change.”

Grisha Oniani, Society Stalin: “Do you know what’s happening on the Champs-Élysées in France? These Kurdish women, wearing large dresses, spread something out as if they are selling goods, then relieve themselves there, and French people follow them to clean up... and the central streets of France stink. This is what awaits us.”

Valeri Kvaratskhelia, Georgia and the World: “Humanity has already been pointed at its temple with a double-barreled shotgun of global perversion and global war. There is little time left before the fatal shot unless, of course, someone restrains these rabid dogs of the West. The only force in the world today capable of fulfilling this universal mission is Russia.”

Soso Shatberashvili, Left Alliance: “A comparison between the 2014 Moscow Olympics and the current French Olympics is circulating on social media - they danced ballet [in Moscow], performed by the most beautiful ballet dancers, with beautiful music, and then this shameful orgy. What a difference! So, what does it mean? Russia, which is an occupier and was not even allowed into the Olympics this time, nor Belarus… Or even… when the Georgian ensemble performed at Luzhniki, and in general, the show in Luzhniki was stunning; I remember it well as I was already quite grown up… and comparing that to this, Russia is the dark one, and this the light?!”