Thematic inquiry group on Disinformation and Propaganda report introduced
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Wednesday, January 15
The key reporter of the Thematic Inquiry Group on Disinformation and Propaganda set up at the Foreign Relations Committee, Nino Goguadze, introduced the report on the activity of the Group and developed recommendations at the briefing.
“Our report and recommendations mostly aim at the Parliament and the Government to cooperate in a coordinated manner to mitigate Russian disinformation and propaganda in Georgia and to protect our society from the impact of the propagandist campaigns,” noted Goguadze.
The Group has inquired the main streams of anti-Western disinformation and campaign in Georgia, the manner of implementation of this process and the subjects standing behind it, as well as the state policy to mitigate disinformation and propaganda impact.
Various documents reflect and mention disinformation and propaganda as the highest threat for the security of the country and thus, the Group doomed it expedient to ensure coordinated activity between the executive structures, as well as certain legislative changes in this direction.
Their recommendations are issued to the Parliament and the Government. The reporter briefly overviewed the recommendations to be officially submitted to the Foreign Committee.
She stressed the state and non-state agencies to be engaged in the implementation of the recommendations and dwelt on the remedies paramount for the elimination of hereof problem.
The Foreign Relations Committee has started a thematic inquiry on Disinformation and Propaganda pursuant to the goals set out in the 2018-2020 Strategy of Foreign Affairs Committee and under Article 155 of the Rules of Procedure of Georgian Parliament.
The thematic inquiry is an efficient mechanism for implementing parliamentary control over the activities of the executive branch. It allows the parliament to research the issue of high public interest with the direct involvement of civil society, as well as to study the activities of the executive government and to reveal new opportunities for a reaction.
The objective of the current Thematic Inquiry is to research and analyze the major challenges and problems existing in the country on issues of disinformation and propaganda; Gather evidence during the inquiry process and prepare evidence-based conclusions along with recommendation project for the purpose of improving the activities of the executive branch.
The creating inquiry on issues of disinformation and propaganda has led to the relevance of the high public interest. The State Security Service in 2017 Report indicates anti-western propaganda and disinformation as an action against state national interests.
The project is implemented by the support of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD).
