Georgian authorities raid homes of disinformation researchers ahead of elections

Updated 3:45pm EST with a statement from the Atlantic Council.

The homes of two prominent disinformation researchers were raided by Georgian authorities in Tbilisi on Thursday, ahead of the country’s parliamentary elections this weekend.

Eto Buziashvili and Sopo Gelava, both employees of the Atlantic Council think tank, had their homes searched and their own and their family members’ personal devices seized by investigators working for the country’s Ministry of Finance, according to friends of the pair who spoke to Recorded Future News.

Both women are said to be safe, although there are concerns about the security of their devices and online accounts. The searches come a day after Buziashvili published an article detailing how the Kremlin was influencing Georgian politics by supporting the incumbent government and interfering in the upcoming elections.

Local media reported that the offices of outsourcing company Concentrix and other Georgian citizens were also subject to searches. The Ministry of Finance claimed on Facebook it launched searches of “specific facilities” related to “call centers” alleged to be engaged in illegal activity.

The investigations come ahead of an election that is being seen as a bellwether of the country’s future direction, either pursuing closer ties to Russia under the current prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze or moving towards the West through opposition figures.

The searches come in the wake of protests in the country, and the alleged violent police beating of an opposition politician, over legislation that required non-governmental organizations to register as foreign agents, something which drew criticism from Western states and the European Union.

Graham Brookie, the Atlantic Council’s vice president for technology programs and strategy, said the organization "is deeply concerned about this development and its impact on our staff’s work shortly before Georgian elections. [Gelava and Buziashvili] are engaged in independent, non-partisan work aimed at defending and strengthening democracy from those who would undermine it in online spaces, including research related to foreign influence efforts, the targeting of marginalized communities, and other online harms.

"We trust that Georgian authorities will provide more clarity on their actions, ensure the safety and security of our staff, return their property, and allow them to continue their contributions to Georgian democracy."