A fake news report aired by Georgian television station Imedi TV on 13 March 2010 reported on the breakdown of Parliament and the deaths of several government officials, culminating in an invasion of Georgia by Russia. The hoax was intended as a hypothetical pseudo-documentary. The broadcast's close resemblance to genuine news programming caused widespread panic among Georgians who believed the events depicted were real, and it was linked to the deaths of at least three people.
The hoax drew widespread criticism from the opposition, the Georgian media, and the public, as well as many international commentators and officials. Then-President Mikheil Saakashvili, whom Imedi TV supported, was accused of involvement in the hoax. It has been considered one of the most shocking hoaxes of all time.
The broadcast Special Report was a weekly programme broadcast on Imedi TV on Saturdays at 8:30 pm. On 13 March 2010, Imedi moved its timeslot forward to 7:59 pm, the timeslot allocated to Chronicle, Imedi TV's news programme. Chronicle, which normally airs at 8:00 pm, is a major source of information for Imedi TV viewers.
The fake news broadcast, which was presented as a Chronicle breaking news report and heavily used footage from the Russo-Georgian War, began by accusing the Georgian opposition of organising protests in Tbilisi over alleged fraud in the Tbilisi city elections, which were scheduled for 30 May. During the protests, unknown gunmen opened fire on the protestors, killing several people; the opposition promptly pleaded for the international community to assist in ousting the "Saakashvili tyranny". Following the protest in Tbilisi, an ambush in the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali killed President of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity; the Russian government announced that it held proof of Georgian security services' involvement in Kokoity's assassination, which Russia considered a terrorist attack. Allegedly pro-Russian opposition politicians, led by Nino Burdzhanadze and Zurab Nogaideli, travelled to Tskhinvali and accused Saakashvili of killing Kokoity. After the assassination, Russian Army troops were mobilized and placed on high alert; in response, the Georgian Army was mobilized and took defensive positions around Tbilisi with heavy artillery. A "people's government" with Burdzhanadze at the helm declared the government of Saakashvili "illegal". Other Georgian opposition politicians who were held up as collaborators with the Russians included Zurab Dzidziguri, Kakha Kukava, Koba Davitashvili, Levan Gachechiladze and Giorgi Khaindrava.
Russian president Dmitry Medvedev was then shown, with a Georgian voiceover, allegedly saying "Since the Saakashvili regime began open terrorism against South Ossetia, this international criminal must be stopped. I have ordered a military operation, and call on the Georgian people not to resist the troops that bring them freedom." The broadcast then showed Russian tanks, which were based in the Akhalgori region of South Ossetia, entering the Georgian capital, with several Georgian battalions reported to have defected and sided with the people's government. Saakashvili was pronounced as having possibly been assassinated, which was allegedly announced by the Movement for Fair Georgia, the political party headed by former Georgian prime minister and current opposition politician Zurab Nogaideli. However, other reports claimed Saakashvili was alive in a hidden location and still in command. The broadcast stated that the West stood by and issued only "halfhearted protests". A speech said to have been given by President Saakashvili was shown, where he stated that Russia wanted to become an empire, and instructed all eligible Georgians to join the military. Meanwhile, Russian planes were reported to have bombed targets and infrastructure across Georgia, and Georgian volunteers were reported to be engaged in combat in Mtskheta. The report also described the scenario of Polish president Lech Kaczyński's flight to Tbilisi being destroyed, killing him.
Though the beginning and end of the program noted the events of the broadcast were a fictional "simulation", the rest of the broadcast did not. Two hours after the initial broadcast, Imedi aired a follow-up broadcast apologising for spreading panic.
Effects The broadcast sparked widespread panic across Georgia, as many Georgians did not see the disclaimer at the beginning of the broadcast and assumed that they were watching live events. Thousands of calls to emergency services were made, citizens hurried to withdraw cash from automatic teller machines, Georgian mobile phone networks crashed, and those living in Tbilisi and near the border with South Ossetia prepared to flee. Some units of the Georgian Army took up defensive positions after hearing of the alleged invasion. Russian news agency Interfax began reporting on the invasion of Georgia and the assassination of Saakashvili, before Georgian government employee David Cracknell sent a two-word text message to foreign journalists reading "Not true".
The deaths of three people were indirectly caused by the hoax and the ensuing panic. Gaioz Odishelidze, a 50-year-old man from Aragvispiri in the Dusheti district, suffered a fatal heart attack whilst watching the program. According to his son, Odishelidze cried out "What the hell's going on?", before grabbing his chest and collapsing. An ambulance rushed to the scene, but paramedics were unable to revive him. Vano Nasaridze, a 75-year-old resident of Tbilisi and a refugee from Sukhumi, suffered a stroke whilst watching the broadcast. Nasaridze's family rushed him to a hospital on 14 March, where he underwent surgery, but died several days later. Nasaridze's family announced their intention to sue Imedi, insisting that the program was responsible for his death. A woman whose son was serving in the Georgian Army died of a heart attack while watching the program.
Domestic reaction The opposition in Georgia condemned the programme, which has been compared to the 1938 The War of the Worlds radio broadcast, and accused Saakashvili of involvement.
Nino Burdzhanadze, the leader of Democratic Movement-United Georgia opposition party, stated her belief that Saakashvili ordered the programme aired to increase anti-Russian sentiment and to tarnish the Georgian opposition. Burdzhanadze's party also announced that it would file a lawsuit against Imedi.
Former Georgian president Eduard Shevardnadze condemned the programme and said that it was intimidation by the Georgian government of its own people. Shevardnadze also stated that the programme proved then-Russian president Dmitry Medvedev correct in his decision not to hold discussions with Saakashvili. Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia condemned the programme, calling it an insult to Georgia's people and army.
In a poll run by Kviris Palitra, 63% of the 406 respondents believe that Saakashvili was involved in the preparation of the fake report, whilst 8.7% believe the President was uninvolved, with 28.3% indicating they were unsure.
Georgian journalist reactions The Imedi broadcast was condemned by many Georgian journalists who took part in protests at the Imedi TV building. Giorgi Udzilauri, a journalist with the Akhali Taoba newspaper, noted that the programme demonstrated that propaganda has a large influence in Georgia, and went on to say that the programme was a test of public reaction towards the Georgian government's "next violence and military adventure", and that it appears the Government still holds such plans. Udzilauri also called Imedi a "propaganda trumpet" of the government, and stated his belief that those responsible should be taken to court, as creating panic is a crime against the State. Luba Eliashvili stated their belief that Imedi should be charged, however, new laws in Georgia do not provide significant penalties. Eliashvili also stated that a positive outcome of the report is that people have lost their trust in Imedi and the "Mischists" forever. Gia Iakobashvili, the Editor-in-Chief of presa.ge, stated their belief that all journalists should protest against Imedi, and that journalists should not participate in any Imedia programming. Giorgi Mamatsashvili, a journalist with the Asaval-Dasavali newspaper, regarded the programme as a staged show, and after hearing the alleged telephone conversation between Tsamalashvili and Arveladze, stated his belief that the programme had the intent of creating panic and to implement the Government's ideology. Mamatsashvili also said that "Imedi has become a house of prostitution. This Government's ideology is to fight against the Patriarch and destroy the Church."
The Council of the Charter of Journalistic Ethics in Georgia had a meeting on 25 March 2010, in which they discussed journalistic ethics in the Georgian media. Special Report anchor Natia Koberidze was due to attend the meeting but later withdrew. Koberidze stated that she was ready to attend the Council meeting, but due to its public format, decided to withdraw as the meeting could be used as a mean to attack her. Eter Turadze, the Council head, stated at the meeting that it was not being held to punish anyone, although sanctions could be considered if the Council felt that journalistic ethical norms were breached. Turadze also said that the stated aim of the meeting was to call upon journalists to act according to ethical norms. As a result of Koberidze's non-attendance at the meeting, the Council sent her 16 questions via email, which among other things asked her who was responsible for the fake news report being broadcast with visible warnings that it was only a simulation, and whether she had been put under any pressure. Koberidze replied to the questionnaire by saying that she did not violate the Charter, as warnings were given to viewers at the beginning of the programme that it was a simulation. She also stated she was not aware who was responsible for the absence of visible warnings during the programme.
Imedi response Giorgi Arveladze, the General Director of Imedi TV, stated that the purpose of the program was to demonstrate to Georgians the external threats that they were faced with, saying, "The really unpleasant thing about yesterday's report—and I want everyone to understand this well—is that this report is as close to reality as possible, to what may really happen, and to what Georgia's enemies keep in mind". Arveladze apologised for the panic caused by the broadcast, but defended the report, and dismissed calls for him to resign. Whilst Arveladze refused to be drawn into questions on whether the broadcast breached the code of conduct for broadcasters, the Georgian National Communications Commission and the Young Lawyers' Association of Georgia said that Imedi had violated the code with its broadcast. The Imedi chief was also forced to defend against allegations that top officials in the Georgian government, including Saakashvili, were informed about the programme before it went to air. After a finding by the GNMC that the broadcast violated the broadcaster's code of conduct, the broadcaster was directed to make a public apology.
Government response