A camera crew from the Russian state-owned television channel Russia 24, widely recognized as a propaganda outlet, is currently in Georgia. The crew is covering the World Fencing Championships being held in Tbilisi, an event notable for the participation of Russian athletes with military ranks.
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Russia 24’s broadcasting activities are banned within the European Union. A press release issued in 2022, following the adoption of the EU's sixth package of sanctions against Russia, stated that the television company is one of the most significant tools for pro-Kremlin disinformation, spreading propaganda in support of Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Russia 24 is prohibited from distributing content within the EU in any form, including cable television, satellite, internet, or smartphone applications. The television company is also banned in Ukraine, Moldova, and the United Kingdom.
The presence of representatives from the Kremlin's propaganda channel in Georgia comes months after the Ministry of Internal Affairs denied entry to French photojournalist Jérôme Chobeaux and Czech journalist Ray Baseley. Both had been covering anti-government protests in Tbilisi. British journalist Will Neal was also denied entry to Georgia.
Georgia is hosting the World Fencing Championships for the first time. Among the athletes who have arrived in Tbilisi are Russians competing under a neutral status. Of the 24 members of the Russian delegation, some represent the Central Sports Club of the Army and hold military ranks.
These include Olympic champions Sofia Velikaya, a major in the Russian Armed Forces, and Yana Egoryan, a lieutenant in the Russian Armed Forces. Both were trusted proxies for Vladimir Putin during the 2024 Russian presidential elections and support the war in Ukraine.
Yesterday, July 27, protests were held in Tbilisi against the participation of Russian athletes in the World Championships. Activists gathered near the New Sports Palace with posters that read: "Russians will not win in Antsukhelidze's country," "Fencing in Tbilisi and killing in Ukraine," "No medals for mass graves," "Russia is a terrorist state," and more. Some activists even managed to enter the hall and unfurled a poster of Giorgi Antsukhelidze, a Georgian national hero. A protest also took place near the hotel where members of the Russian delegation are staying.
Dmitry Svishchev, Deputy Chairman of the Physical Culture and Sports Committee in the Russian Duma, called on the International Fencing Federation to respond to the incident. The Russian Interests Section operating under the Swiss Embassy in Georgia referred to the protests as "another Russophobic outburst."
