Georgia invaded, Saakashvili dead? False TV report causes panic with the public

In several minutes, however, the source “reported” the death of Saakashvili and creation of the People’s government headed by one of the opposition leaders, Nino Burdzhanadze.

The program, that lasted for half an hour, also reported the “terrible bombardment” of the country’s air and seaports and only at the end, Imedi presenters pointed out that this was a “special report about possible development of the events.”

At the beginning of the broadcast there was also warnings that the program showed a sequence of possible events that could only occur "if Georgian society is not brought together against Russia's plans."

Despite the warnings though, the report has caused panic across the country. People began calling each other and the TV studio to find out what was really happening, said RIA Novosti news agency.

Interfax news agency reported the local media outlets saying that many people called ambulances for help. "Multiple instances of heart attacks and fainting have been reported," the source quoted Georgian media.

According to the Georgian press, panic was also spread in the cities of Poti and Gori. On Sunday, the residents of Poti are set to hold a rally against the Imedi TV channel’s activity.

Fallout from the hoax

The action of the TV channel has caused a public outrage. Several dozen people, including members of the opposition and clergy, have gathered near the office of Imedi TV channel in Tbilisi to demand apologies for the report, Interfax news agency reported.

“It’s incredible stupidity. The entire city, the whole of Georgia is shocked, people are shocked!” said opposition member Petre Mamradze, “Hundreds of people rushed to ATMs, to gas stations, even to shops to buy bread…”

“Authorities, and Saakashvili in the first place, must be held responsible in court for the mean report of the channel Imedi which is under their control,” opposition leader Levan Gachechiladze told journalists.

“As far as we came to know, Saakashvili knew about the preparation of the report, which means he does not care about the Georgian people,” added another opposition leader, Zurab Abashidze.

Several hours after the report aired, Imedi apologised for the broadcast. “We apologize for the report, which has caused a major concern for the population,” the statement said.

President Saakashvili has already said he did not approve of the channel's tactics, suggesting the producers make it clearer onscreen next time they pull a stunt like this.

“Saakashvili might bring the country into a new provocation like he did it in August [2008], which will be ended tragically for the country,” claims opposition leader Nino Burdzhanadze, involuntary hero of the report, “And I’m sure that Saakashvili and his regime should be made to answer for everything.”

“People have suffered serious psychological damage,” states Malkhaz Gulashvili, president of The Georgian Times, “I’m convinced this is a crime that should be punished. We will do our outmost to press charges against the Imedi channel and against the government, which has been running this company, and the president, who is also responsible for such actions.”

Meanwhile, according to head of the Russian parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Konstantin Kosachev, the report is a provocation on the part of the Georgian regime of Mikhail Saakashvili.

“I am sure that today’s provocation was initiated by the ruling regime, by Saakashvili,” Kosachev said in an interview with TV Channel One.

He pointed out that Imedi TV channel, which previously was in opposition to Saakashvili, is now controlled by the current Georgian president.

According to Kosachev, the Georgian authorities are increasing tensions around Russia and South Ossetia as they did before the August war in 2008.

“We will certainly draw the international community’s attention to this provocation,” Kosachev added.

Calls for accountability

The Georgian National Commission of Communications (GNCC) proclaimed the form of Saturday’s fake news program as “irresponsible and a mistake”, according to TASS. On March 15, an emergency meeting will be held to appraise Imedi’s activity, GNCC spokesperson told journalists.

Representatives of the Georgian government and parliament have also called “irresponsible” actions of the TV channel leaders, saying that they “did not manage to inform the viewers properly that it was just an imitation, not reality.”

Nino Burdzhanadze’s lawyer has claimed that the opposition leader is filing a lawsuit against the Imedi TV channel. “It will be a criminal case, as Imedi’s intentions fell outside the limits of administrative law violation,” said Burdzhanadze’s lawyer Khatuna Ivanishvili.

Political analyst Dmitry Babich from “Russia Profile” magazine told RT that the “news report” is a PR move by President Saakashvili. He explained that this is now the only measure at hand for the Georgian leader.

“Saakashvili needs a constant flow of news to show his own people and the world that he is actually doing something,” says the expert. He recalled the story of a Turkish captain sentenced to a prison term for trade with Abkhazia who was later released.

Babich says that all the steps taken by Saakashvili so far follow the same pattern: “bold”, “risky” and “failed”.

Despite the fact that the Georgian president is gradually losing the confidence of his own people and the international community, Babich is confident that there are still those who will never get disappointed with Saakashvili. For example the President of Poland or presidents of the Baltic States.

“Their love of Saakashvili is based on the most powerful of emotions – their hatred for Russia,” says Babich.

Babich sees a link between the faked news report and the fact that a new PR outlet in America is reported to have signed a deal to work for Saakashvili.