On November 1, online media outlet “Marshallpress” published information with the following headline “Nika Melia’s “Hoax” – how the “fox” kept the tossed bracelet “. According to the information, on November 1, after Nika Melia tossed the electronic monitoring bracelet required for the probation as a form of protest during the rally outside of the parliament, this device appeared to be in the possession of his subordinate, who secretly gave it back. According to the “Marshallpress”, Melia wears a bracelet at the moment. The reason for the protest rally was the parliamentary election results, which, according to the opposition gathered at the rally, were fabricated.
The article published on the “Marshallpress” webpage lacks evidence. National Movement denies the claim that after the rally Nika Melia put on the electronic bracelet that he tossed as a form of the protest. The TV footage of November 1-2 doesn’t show Nika Melia wearing the electronic bracelet he took off during the protest rally either.
Information published on “Marshallpress” doesn’t cite any sources. Moreover, it doesn’t have any photo or video proof confirming the accusation.
“Myth Detector” contacted the “United National Movement” to verify the information. The party denies the disseminated information and notes that after Nika Melia tossed the electronic bracelet, nobody gave it back to him.
United opposition held a briefing at the “National Movement” office at 18:00, November 2. Nika Melia also made a speech during the briefing. Live footage doesn’t show the electronic bracelet on Nika Melia’s wrist.
Nika Melia is also seen without the bracelet in the footage of November 1, when opposition leaders and protesters during the protest rally outside of the parliament started to move towards the business residence of GD chairperson Bidzina Ivanishvili. TV channels live broadcasted the rally, Nika Melia without the electronic bracelet can be seen on “TV Pirveli” and “Formula” live.
GD representative Irakli Kobakhidze made a prompt political assessment on Nika Melia’s offense of removing the bracelet and noted that even though the incident requires legal action, the arrest wasn’t politically appropriate.
During the November 1 rally outside of the parliament, one of the leaders of the “United National Movement” Nika Melia took off the electronic bracelet, tossed it, and noted that he didn’t plan on wearing it anymore.
Nika Melia was ordered to wear the electronic bracelet in July 2019 for monitoring his movement upon entering and leaving the house. Prosecutor’s office charged Melia for inciting violent groups on June 20.
Dissemination campaign of disinformation on social network
As of November 2, an article published on the “Marshallpress” webpage has 70 shares. Facebook account “Marshallpress News” has shared the article in the following Facebook groups: პროტესტი! Protest! Протест! (Protest! Protest! Protest!), პრემიერ-მინისტრი გიორგი გახარია (Prime-minister Giorgi Gakharia), ”მოქალაქე’’ არასამთავრობო ორგანიზაცია (“Citizen” NGO) ქართველთა მსოფლიო ცენტრი Georgians World Center Всемирный центр грузин Gürc (Georgians World Center), დაარეკლამე რაც გინდა (Advertise Whatever You Want), Georgia • საქართველო ✔️ (Georgia • Georgia), საქართველო და მსოფლიო (Georgia and the World), Tbilisi ◊ თბილისი (Tbilisi ◊ Tbilisi).
Other webpages have also published articles identical to “Marshalpress” text and headline. Those webpages are exclusivenews.ge, reportiori.ge, and clickbait webpage www.ge. Articles published on the webpages have been actively disseminated in Facebook groups and pages.
Article published by Exclusivenews.ge has 101 shares. It was shared in the group „ჩემი მხარდაჭერა გახარიას“ (I Support Gakharia), where the said post has 108 shares.
Facebook page „სირცხვილის კორიდორი“ (Corridor of Shame) has published the “Marshallpress” article as a post. As of November 2, the post has 65 shares.
Data from CrowdTangle, a public insights tool owned and operated by Facebook.
