Russia's psychological operations in Georgia: a multifaceted strategy of control

Balkan Insight

2 days ago

July 4, 2025 - Grigol Julukhidze - Articles and Commentary
A man standing next to barbed wire on the separation line between Georgia and the breakaway region of South Ossetia in Khurvaleti. Photo: Shutterstock
Psychological operations (psyops) are planned activities designed to influence the emotions, motives, reasoning and behaviour of individuals, groups or societies to achieve strategic objectives. This is often achieved through the use of information, symbols and actions. In military and geopolitical contexts, psyops aim to weaken an adversary's resolve, sow confusion, or shape perceptions to align with the operator's goals. Unlike propaganda, which primarily focuses on disseminating information – often biased or misleading – to shape public opinion through mass media, psyops encompass a broader range of tactics. For example, they can involve physical actions, psychological manipulation and targeted messaging, often with a specific strategic intent. While propaganda seeks to persuade through widespread narratives, psyops are more calculated, often covert, and may involve direct interventions like troop movements or staged events to create psychological effects.
Since the 2008 Russo-Georgian War, Moscow has employed a sophisticated array of psychological operations aimed at weakening Georgia's sovereignty, eroding societal resilience, and reinforcing its dominance in the South Caucasus. These operations, often orchestrated with the involvement of Russian military intelligence (GRU), exploit Georgia's historical traumas, geopolitical vulnerabilities, and aspirations for western integration. This article explores three key psychological operations Russia has conducted in Georgia since 2013: the creeping annexation and kidnappings along the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL); the persistent threat of war to instil fear; and the propagation of narratives that demoralize Georgian society while promoting the myth of an invincible Russia with a legitimate claim to regional dominance.
Creeping annexation and kidnappings: eroding sovereignty and societal resolve
One of Russia's most visible psychological operations in Georgia is the strategy of a 'creeping annexation' along the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) separating Georgia from the Russian-occupied regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Since 2013, Russian and separatist forces have incrementally advanced the ABL deeper into Georgian territory, often under the cover of night, by moving border markers, installing barbed wire fences, and erecting 'State Border' signs. This process, known as 'borderization', has resulted in the loss of farmland, homes and livelihoods for Georgian villagers, who sometimes wake up to find their properties suddenly within occupied territory. For instance, in the village of Tamarasheni, South Ossetian troops and their Russian allies shifted border poles overnight, forcing farmers to harvest crops under a 72-hour ultimatum before being expelled. Unlike propaganda, which might amplify these actions through media, this psyop relies on the physical act of borderization to instil fear and helplessness directly in affected communities.
The psychological impact of this operation is profound. By repeatedly violating Georgia's territorial integrity in small, incremental steps, Russia tests the resilience of Georgian society and its government. The constant threat of losing more land creates a pervasive sense of insecurity. Villagers living near the ABL face the daily risk of arbitrary detention or kidnapping by Russian-controlled forces, with over 126 Georgians illegally detained in 2017 alone for 'illegal border crossing'. These detentions, sometimes involving minors or elderly individuals, are rarely investigated by the de facto authorities, fostering a climate of impunity that further demoralizes local communities. The deliberate use of kidnappings as a psyop tactic, rather than mere propaganda, targets specific communities to create a direct psychological effect, amplifying fear beyond what media narratives alone could achieve.
This strategy is designed to exhaust Georgian resistance over time. By 2013, the initial outrage over borderization began to wane as communities grew fatigued by the unrelenting pressure. The lack of a robust international response – beyond statements from the EU and US – has amplified this fatigue, as Georgians perceive their plight as being ignored by the global community. The psychological toll is evident in the stagnation of villages near the ABL, where economic activity has plummeted, and residents live in fear of straying too far from home. The message Russia sends is clear: Georgia's sovereignty is fragile, and resistance is futile against a determined occupier.
The threat of war: exploiting Georgia's traumatic past
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, another psychological operation has gained prominence: the deliberate amplification of war rhetoric to scare Georgians into submission. Georgia's traumatic history with Russia, particularly the devastating 2008 war that resulted in the loss of 20 per cent of its territory, makes its population highly susceptible to fears of renewed conflict. Russian psyops exploit this trauma by perpetuating narratives that warn of imminent war unless Georgia aligns with Moscow's interests. This operation intensified in 2022, as Russia's actions in Ukraine served as a stark reminder of its willingness to use military force against perceived adversaries.
The Kremlin has promoted the idea that pursuing NATO or EU membership will provoke Russia into another devastating war. For example, in 2024, political campaigns in Georgia featured billboards contrasting peaceful Georgian cities with devastated Ukrainian ones, implying that resistance to Russia risks a similar fate. This messaging taps into the collective memory of the 2008 war, where Russian forces overwhelmed Georgia in just five days, displacing thousands and leaving lasting scars. By framing Russia as a guarantor of peace, the Kremlin seeks to deter Georgia from pursuing its Euro-Atlantic aspirations. While propaganda might spread these narratives through media, the psyop incorporates real-world actions, such as Russian troop movements near the ABL, to heighten the perceived threat.
Russian military intelligence has played a key role in amplifying these threats. The GRU has been linked to disinformation campaigns, including statements from Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) accusing the West of plotting a 'Tbilisi Maidan' to destabilize Georgia. These claims, disseminated through Russian media, aim to sow fear of western-induced chaos and position Russia as a stabilizing force. The psychological effect is to paralyze Georgian society, making alignment with Moscow seem like the only path to avoid catastrophic conflict.
Demoralization and the myth of invincible Russia
Perhaps the most insidious psychological operation is Russia's effort to demoralize Georgian society by promoting the narrative that resistance is pointless and that Moscow is an invincible force with a legitimate right to dominate the South Caucasus. This operation, which gained momentum in 2024, seeks to erode Georgia's national morale and undermine its democratic aspirations. By portraying Russia as an unstoppable power, the Kremlin aims to instil a sense of futility, convincing Georgians that no matter their efforts – whether political, economic or military – Russia will ultimately prevail. Unlike propaganda, which might rely solely on media to spread this narrative, this psyop includes tangible actions like asset transfers to reinforce Russia's dominance.
This narrative is propagated through a combination of disinformation and economic coercion. Russian-backed media and organizations in Georgia, reportedly numbering in the dozens, spread anti-western messages, downplay Russia's occupation of Georgian territories, and whitewash its aggression. For instance, in 2024, statements emerged claiming that Russia's actions in Georgia and Ukraine were defensive responses to western provocation. Such narratives aim to shift blame from Moscow and erode trust in western institutions.
The myth of Russia's invincibility is further reinforced through symbolic actions, such as the transfer of strategic assets like the Bichvinta Dacha in Abkhazia to Russian control in 2024. This move, framed as a legitimate assertion of Russian influence, signals to Georgians that Moscow can act with impunity in their territory. The GRU's involvement in these operations is evident in the sophisticated coordination of propaganda, which often portrays Russia as the natural hegemon of the South Caucasus, entitled to dictate Georgia's foreign policy.
Economic interdependence is another tool in this psychological arsenal. Russia's trade with Georgia reached 2.39 billion US dollars in 2023, a 47 per cent increase from 2021. This fostered a dependency that undermines Georgia's ability to resist Russian influence. By controlling key economic levers, Russia reinforces the perception that Georgia cannot thrive without Moscow's approval. This economic coercion, combined with disinformation, creates a demoralizing narrative: Georgia's efforts to align with the West are doomed to fail, and submission to Russia is inevitable.
The role of Russian military intelligence
Russian military intelligence, particularly the GRU, has been instrumental in orchestrating these psychological operations. The GRU's expertise in hybrid warfare – combining disinformation, cyber operations and proxy activities – has enabled Russia to wage a relentless campaign against Georgia's national psyche. From coordinating borderization efforts to disseminating propaganda through various channels, the GRU ensures that these operations are executed with precision and maximum psychological impact. The 2008 war itself was a precursor to these tactics, with Russian forces rehearsing operations in the Caucasus 2008 exercise and deploying proxies like the Vostok Battalion to sow chaos.
A battle for Georgia's soul
Russia's psychological operations in Georgia since 2013 represent a calculated effort to undermine the country's sovereignty and demoralize its people. Creeping annexation and kidnappings erode territorial control and societal resilience; the threat of war exploits historical traumas to deter western alignment; and the myth of Russia's invincibility fosters despair and submission. These operations, driven by Russian military intelligence, have pushed Georgia to a crossroads, where it must choose between succumbing to Moscow's influence or rallying international support to preserve its democratic aspirations.
Grigol Julukhidze is the director of the Foreign Policy Council, a think tank in Tbilisi. He specializes in security studies and propaganda research. He is also an Associate Professor at Caucasus University.
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borderization, Georgia, Georgian politics, Russian foreign policy, Russian interference, South Caucasus, South Ossetia