On April 18, Georgian pro-government media outlets (imedinews.ge, nsp.ge, reportiori.ge, newshub.ge, for.ge, lideri.ge, rustavi2.ge, ongo.ge, kvira.ge, qartuliazri.reportiori.ge, newspress.ge, infopostalioni.com, mkhare.ge, POSTV), Vato Shakarishvili’s platforms (Ar Agarevinebt, Georgia First NEWS) and anonymous Facebook pages (Agentura (1,2), Tsitata) disseminated the statement of the former CIA analyst, Larry Johnson about the protests against the “Foreign Agents Law” in a coordinated manner. According to Johnson, the West is working to create a color revolution in Georgia – “This is not an organic, self-created protest that we are watching from the screens.”
Along with the coordinated distribution, Johnson’s quote, in which he accuses the West of organizing a color revolution in Georgia, was sponsored by anonymous Facebook pages (Agentura (1,2), Tsitata), pro-government media (POSTV-Analytics) and Vato Shakarishvili’s Facebook pages (Ar Agarevinebt, Georgia First NEWS 1,2,3). It should be noted that Georgia First NEWS sponsored Larry Johnson’s statement three times.
What do we know about Larry Johnson?
Larry Johnson is a former intelligence officer and expert on issues related to terrorism, national security, and foreign policy. His career spans a variety of roles in the US government and private sector. Johnson began his career with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the 1980s. During his 4 years of work in the CIA, he was engaged in issues related to terrorism and security. Johnson then worked at the US State Department’s Counterterrorism Office. He was involved in the process of preventing and responding to international terrorist incidents. After his government career, Johnson worked as a political consultant and commentator on issues related to terrorism and security.
It should be noted that Johnson is known for his critical attitude towards US foreign policy decisions and intelligence practices. Johnson is also critical of the Western approach to the Russia-Ukraine war. According to his perspective, the West, especially the US and its allies, bear a significant responsibility for the conflict, since their actions do not contribute to peace. Johnson frequently appears on Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov’s programs, where he along with other “independent Western experts,” propagates his pro-Russian and anti-Western narratives (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7).
In addition to his visits, Solovyov’s program systematically covers Larry Johnson’s interviews, where Johnson talks about Ukraine (1,2,3,4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20). In these interviews, Johnson mostly talks to former Fox News host Andrew Napolitano. Napolitano has been suspended from Fox News for some time after he made an unconfirmed allegation on air that British intelligence had wiretapped Trump Tower on behalf of Barack Obama during the 2016 presidential campaign. British officials have denied the allegation, stressing that GCHQ operates within strict legal and ethical guidelines. Napolitano was eventually fired from Fox News in August 2021 following a sexual harassment allegation filed by a Fox Business assistant producer.
Johnson also actively operates on his personal YouTube channel – “Larry C. Johnson”. His channel frequently features Scott Ritter, who is also presented by the Kremlin media as a Western expert and is often relied upon to support Russian propaganda regarding the war in Ukraine. Despite the blocking of Kremlin-sponsored media in the US and EU after the start of the war, Russian propaganda is legitimized in the West through “independent experts”. In most cases, the false or misleading information spread by these experts is easily transferred from their own platforms to relatively more reliable sources, hence legitimizing the Kremlin propaganda.
On March 20, 2024, the Greek Parliament hosted a conference on ways to achieve peace in Ukraine. In addition to the members of the Greek parliament, former CIA analyst Larry Johnson presented his views on the situation in Ukraine. Johnson’s positions regarding the Russia-Georgia and Russia-Ukraine wars were especially important. In addition to blaming NATO and Ukraine for the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, Johnson absolved Russia of responsibility for invading Georgia in 2008 and annexing Georgian territories.
Narratives Amplified by Larry Johnson
- The West is to blame for the start of the Russia-Ukraine war: Johnson claims that Europe and the United States are to blame for the Russia-Ukraine war, citing the 1997 agreement with NATO as part of an alleged strategy to weaken Russia economically.
- Neglecting Russia’s guilt in the Russo-Georgian war: According to Johnson, after the 2008 Russo-Georgia war, Western countries, including the United States and European countries, condemned Russia’s actions, the violation of Georgia’s sovereignty, the use of disproportionate force, and expressed support for Georgia. However, Larry Johnson criticizes the West for “lying” and actually accuses Georgian forces of attacking Russian troops: “Russia invaded Georgia while they were attacking Russian troops there.” In addition, according to Johnson, if the Mexican government did something similar, the US would react as well.
- 2004-2005 Ukraine Revolution and Maidan as part of the conspiracy. The role of the CIA and MI6: Johnson questions the Ukrainian people’s desire for democracy and fair elections and suggests that the revolution was orchestrated by Western intelligence agencies such as the CIA and MI6. According to Johnson, the West was trying to weaken Russian influence in Ukraine and promote pro-Western leaders. Johnson also claims that the 2014 Maidan protests and Ukraine’s military buildup were part of a CIA and MI6 plan to confront Russia.
- The role of NATO military exercises in increasing tensions with Russia: Larry Johnson notes that the long-term military cooperation between NATO and Ukraine, which has included joint NATO-sponsored exercises since 2006, escalated tensions with Russia. Johnson also notes that the US has taken a confrontational stance towards Russia, especially in the post-Cold War era, and policies such as NATO expansion and military exercises along Russia’s borders have helped to increase tensions.
- Failed peace talks: Johnson claims the US and Britain pressured Ukraine to withdraw from a ceasefire agreement in March 2022, suggesting the West was unwilling to resolve the conflict peacefully. In addition, Johnson says that the Minsk agreement was not intended to be enforced, but to strengthen Ukraine’s military capabilities.
- Freeze arms supply to Ukraine: Johnson thinks the United States and Europe should freeze arms supply to Ukraine because it is preventing peace.
- Ukraine’s defeat is inevitable: According to Johnson, the conflict actually strengthens Russia, as evidenced by its increased military production and capabilities, and Ukraine cannot win because it lacks the resources and trained troops necessary to sustain a successful fight. Johnson compares the efforts of the US to “hack Russia” to a sinking ship like the Titanic. According to VoxUkraine, Johnson compares Ukraine to the Third Reich and claims that the conflict will end like World War II: Ukraine will either capitulate or be destroyed.
- Criticism of Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian Army: Larry Johnson accuses the Ukrainian president of suppressing the voice of the political opposition, the media and attacking Ukrainian religious institutions. In addition, he is also infamous for making misleading claims. According to the monitoring carried out by the publication VoxUkraine, Slovak media, based on Larry Johnson, reported that drugs are distributed in the Ukrainian army in the form of chocolates, sweets, and syringes produced in Ukraine, which explains the bravery and courage of the Ukrainian army – Ukrainian soldiers do not react to pain in particular and become dangerous for the Russian army. Johnson suggests that Ukrainian soldiers are using the same substances that Volodymyr Zelenskyy is “taking.”
Notably, the use of the so-called “Western experts” is one of the Kremlin’s propaganda methods. At various times, the Kremlin media actively covered such Western journalists and experts, such as Tucker Carlson and Scott Ritter. It is important that, in addition to the Kremlin media, these experts are often featured by various anti-liberal and governmental actors in the local context. See more in the “Myth Detector” articles:
