On January 10th, 2022, the Facebook account “Political Satire” published the following quote in the name of Mamuka Khazaradze, the leader of the “Lelo – for Georgia” party: “All this happens by the instructions of Vladimir Putin, he doesn’t need me free, because like Misha [Saakashvili], I am the guarantee of the independence of this country.”
The quote was disseminated in the context of the controversial money laundering case against TBC bank founders, Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze and businessman Avtandil Tsereteli, who were charged under Article 194 (2a, 3c) of the Criminal Code, involving the legalization of illegal income. Notably, on January 12th, Tbilisi City Court found them guilty, sentencing them to seven years in prison; however, they were not put to jail since the statute of limitations were passed by the time of the ruling.
The quote published by “Political Satire” is fabricated. No open-source contains a statement made by Mamuka Khazaradze with identical or similar content. The Facebook account “Political Satire”, which often publishes discrediting posts of the media and the opposition, has been suspected of spreading fabricated quotes in the past as well.
On January 11th, 2022, yet another trial was held against Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze concerning the above-mentioned money laundering case. The account “Political Satire” tried to spread a fabricated quote of Mamuka Khazaradze in the context of the January 11th court hearing. While it is true that Mamuka Khazaradze calls the current case against him politically motivated, but the quote published by “Political Satire” in which Mamuka Khazaradze compares himself to Mikheil Saakashvili, perceiving himself to be the guarantor of the country’s independence cannot be found in open sources.
About the Source
The Facebook account “Political Satire” often publishes posts supportive of the pro-Kremlin Alliance of Patriots of Georgia party and seeks to discredit the opposition and critical media outlets. The account ismanaged by Irakli Jankarashvili, a supporter of the Patriots Alliance. For more on “Political Satire” and other cases of disinformation spread by it, see Myth Detector’s materials:
- Who Spreads the Fake Quote of Giorgi and Grigol Vashadze?
- Fabricated Quote of a UNM Member Disseminated in the Name of Georgian Public Broadcaster
- Facebook Account „Political Satire” Spreads a Fabricated Quote in the Name of Giorgi Vashadze
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