On August 21st, 2021, the Facebook user Tedo Abashidze shared a screenshot allegedly showcasing the comment of a Georgian women’s rights activist Baia Pataraia. According to the screenshot, Pataraia claims that 40000 boys are born in Georgia every year, while the number of newborn girls is only 16000. Therefore, in order to restore gender equality in Georgia, the government has to subsidise abortion of male foetuses and sexual reassignment surgery for newborn babies. In addition, the screenshot shows that Pataraia demands the imposition of fines on newborn male babies and giving financial support to the parents of girls. The screenshot creates the impression that the comment is made by Pataraia’s personal account.
As of August 23rd, the post has accumulated 336 reactions and 455 shares. In addition, identical screenshots have been posted by the account “Kacuri Kacis Kacuri Mimebi” and pages “Khelovnuri Suntkva,” and “Why Not?.”
The screenshot published by Tedo Abashidze allegedly showcasing the comment of Baia Pataraia is fabricated. Baia Pataraia has issued a statement on her official Facebook account and stressed that she has never made a comment of this kind.
On August 22nd, in response to the circulated fabricated comment, Baia Pataraia published a post on her personal Facebook account. She confirmed the inauthenticity of the disseminated information and addressed the disinformation campaign directed against her. Pataraia stated that the user Tedo Abashidze regularly spreads false information in the name of the women’s rights activist.
It is essential to mention that the profile picture used in the fabricated screenshot is different from Pataraia’s actual profile picture.
Baia Pataraia has been a target of disinformation in the past as well. For more, see the articles of “Myth Detector:”
- Post claiming that Baia Pataraia demands the punishment for the rape committed in the dream is satire;
- “Kogarashi Urie” and “Liberastuli seni” Fabricate Journalist Quotes;
- “Blue Soviet Union” falsifies Baia Pataraia’s post;
- “Presstitution” Falsifies Female Activists’ Facebook Post
- The Quote as if a Georgian Activist ‘Wants Men to Give Birth too’ is Satirical
The article has been written in the framework of Facebook’s fact-checking program. You can read more about the restrictions that Facebook may impose based on this article via this link. You can find information about appealing or editing our assessment via this link.
Read detailed instructions for editing the article.
Read detailed appeal instructions.
