US Ambassador Degnan: Russia is likely to interfere in Georgian elections
US Ambassador Degnan says that Russian disinformation campaigns have become very active and creative when it comes to elections. Photo: US Embassy press office.
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US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan says that she has no concrete proof, however taking Russia’s previous activities into account ‘it is quite likely’ the country will try to interfere in upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia in the autumn.
Speaking during a panel discussion organised by the Georgian Institute of Politics yesterday, Degnan said ‘we all know how active and creative Russian disinformation campaigns are when it comes to elections in many countries... and Georgia is an obvious target.’
She said that the US, UK and other partners have helped Georgia in the fight against Russian disinformation campaigns.
She recalled the recent cyber attack organised by Russia against Georgia, stating that it was a ‘serious warning’ not only for Georgia, but also for other countries.
Degnan said that if Georgia manages to hold elections successfully it will be a ‘big victory’ and Georgia will become a ‘role model’ not only for regional, but also for many other states.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has thanked High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of European Commission Josep Borrell for condemning Russia’s widespread cyber attack against Georgia back in October 2019.
Russian Foreign Ministry has denied widespread allegations that it carried out a cyberattack against Georgia in October 2019, stating that ‘there is no evidence providing’ the country was involved, accusing Tbilisi, Washington, London and other states of ‘synchronized’, anti-Russian propaganda. “All accusations are again lined up in the spirit of the notorious ‘highly likely,” Russian Foreign Ministry says.
The US condemns Russia’s ‘widespread disruptive cyber attack against Georgia,' carried out in October 2019, the press office of US State Secretary Mike Pompeo said earlier today.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry has stated that on October 28, 2019, the Russian General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) Main Center for Special Technologies carried out a ‘widespread, disruptive cyber attack’ against web pages and servers of Georgian governmental agencies, court and media organisations.“The attack caused serious damage to the web pages and servers. The cyberattack aimed to undermine Georgia’s national security, harming the Georgian population, disrupting the functioning of government agencies, as well as various organizations, and stirring commotion in public."
The first Cyber Security Forum in Tbilisi has been held by the government of Georgia to identify problems in Georgian cybersecurity and find ways to settle them with the involvement of the diplomatic corps and international institutions.