On May 18, the Facebook profile “Taliban Conservative” posted a video of the U.S. Ambassador to Georgia, Kelly Degnan, dubbed in the Georgian language. According to the description, Degnan directly says that a second front should be opened in Georgia. In the video, Degnan notes the following: “… to ensure that the military is as ready as it can be and the United States stands with Georgia in working on those steps toward NATO membership. This is an incredible opportunity for Georgia, and there is no time to lose.”
Following Degnan’s quote, the speaker says: “After this call, this is what happens” and the footage of an explosion appears in the video, creating the impression that Degnan was talking about military action.
The video of Kelly Degnan is being disseminated in the wrong context. In the full interview, instead of opening of a second front with Russia and the start of hostilities, Degnan talks about the implementation of reforms and military readiness for Georgia’s accession to NATO. The video features manipulatively added shots of an explosion that are not found in Degnan’s original interview.
An excerpt from Kelly Degnan’s comment is taken from a March 23rd interview with Radio Liberty.
An excerpt from Kelly Degnan’s comment is taken from a March 23rd interview with Radio Liberty.
The full version of the interview quotes Degnan talking about Georgia’s prospective NATO membership, and she neither mentions the opening of a second front nor calls on Georgia to join the war with Russia.
The quote, in which Degnan talks about maximum military readiness and not wasting time, is the answer to a journalist’s question about the prospects of Georgia and Ukraine joining NATO.
Radio Liberty: “Do you think the War in Ukraine made Georgia’s and Ukraine’s NATO perspective further?”
Kelly Degnan: As I said, NATO is an alliance based on shared values, and both Ukraine and Georgia share those values, that commitment to freedom, that respect for human rights, for sovereignty and territorial integrity. Country like Georgia certainly knows that having been invaded in 2008 and having the 20 per cent of the territory occupied by Russian forces.
I think that this, as I said, this is the time for a commitment to enacting the reforms that are necessary, to taking the steps to ensure that the military is as ready as it can be and the United States stands with Georgia in working on those steps toward NATO membership. This is an incredible opportunity for Georgia, and there is no time to lose.”
As the full version of the above-mentioned quote shows, the part where Degnan talks about the importance of reforms is being cut out and the rest is being disseminated without context.
An excerpt from Degnan’s video is manipulatively accompanied by the footage of explosions to create a sense of war threat. One of the videos was published by the Russian Ministry of Defense and, according to the source, depicts a missile attack on Ukraine’s military infrastructure from the Black Sea.
For more disinformation aimed at discrediting Kelly Degnan, see our articles:
- Kelly Degnan’s Statement Regarding Sanctions Disseminated with a False Interpretation
- Pro-Governmental Online Media Outlet Spreads a Manipulative Headline Featuring Kelly Degnan and Mikheil Saakashvili
- Disinformation Regarding the Alleged Expulsion of the U.S. Ambassador from Georgia
- Why is Kelly Degnan in Washington and Who Disseminates Disinformation about Her?
- “Kardhu” Fakes a Quote by the U.S. Ambassador
- A Georgian March Member Disseminates Disinformation About the U.S. Ambassador
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