Facebook deletes pages, groups related to pro-Russian media outlet Alt-Info
In April 2021, the Georgian National Communications Commission fined the right-wing media outlet 2,500 GEL for obscenity and circulation of material unsuitable for minors. Photo: Alt-Info.
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Facebook has deleted pages and groups associated with the Georgian-based pro-Russian media outlet Alt-Info on the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy has said.
The non-governmental organisation said it had provided “relevant data” on the pages to Facebook as part of its work to “resist Russian propaganda and manipulation of the war”.
The website of Alt-Info - known for offering pro-Russian viewpoints and narratives on political, security and geopolitical topics - was offline on Saturday. Alt-Info founder Konstantine Morgoshia told on.ge the outage was related to “maintenance work” on the website.
Along with its political commentary, Alt-Info has also organised conservative protests in Georgia, including an anti-LGBTQ rally in capital Tbilisi on July 5, 2021 where right-wing groups assaulted and left dozens of journalists injured.
Facebook has previously deleted content related to Georgian-based conservative-leaning causes. In 2020, 50 accounts, 49 pages, four groups, eight events and 19 Instagram accounts related to Alt-Info were deleted due to what the social media company calls “coordinated unauthorised behaviour”.
In April 2021, the Georgian National Communications Commission fined the right-wing media outlet 2,500 GEL for obscenity and circulation of material unsuitable for minors.
The Georgian right-wing media outlet Alt-Info founders have failed to register the political party Conservative Movement, which they established on November 20, by National Agency of Public Registry due to mistakes made while filling out the application form.
Georgian telecommunication provider Silknet has agreed to air and include in all its packages right-wing media outlet Alt-Info after months of a dispute caused by the outbreak of violence at the Tbilisi Pride counter rally on July 5. Alt-Info has been actively expressing and encouraging violence and aggresion against Tbilisi Pride march while founders of the media outlet were participating in the counter rally on July 5.
Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria has asked the country’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office to launch a criminal prosecution against archpriest Spiridon Tskipirishvili and a right-wing activist and an anchor of ultra-nationalist Internet platform Alt-Info Zurab Makharadze for their role on an anti-LGBT demonstration in central Tbilisi in early July.
Facebook has removed dozens of inauthentic Facebook accounts, pages and groups connected with Georgian pro-Russian party Alliance of Patriots, political party Georgian Choice and media outlet Alt-Info.