1/21
You may have heard false rumours @georgian_legion is embezzling donors' money, its commander @Mamulashvili_M is faking poisoning and the Legion doesn't exist. @TomasForro from @dennikN exposes ussian disinfo campaign against @georgian_legion Unlocked article at the end🧵👇
You may have heard false rumours @georgian_legion is embezzling donors' money, its commander @Mamulashvili_M is faking poisoning and the Legion doesn't exist. @TomasForro from @dennikN exposes ussian disinfo campaign against @georgian_legion Unlocked article at the end🧵👇
2/21
In September 2024, none of us suspected that the then head of Mamuka's press department's mental problems would soon turn from a delicate farce into a public affair of monstrous proportions. It would spread to all corners of the internet and shake the community of
In September 2024, none of us suspected that the then head of Mamuka's press department's mental problems would soon turn from a delicate farce into a public affair of monstrous proportions. It would spread to all corners of the internet and shake the community of
3/21
pro-Ukrainian activists around the world. We all knew Reshet. A young, ambitious Lviv resident, one of the few Ukrainians in the Georgian Legion who never actually got involved in real combat. However, thanks to his enthusiasm for social networks, the Georgian Legion
pro-Ukrainian activists around the world. We all knew Reshet. A young, ambitious Lviv resident, one of the few Ukrainians in the Georgian Legion who never actually got involved in real combat. However, thanks to his enthusiasm for social networks, the Georgian Legion
4/21
accounts were followed by hundreds of thousands of users. Along with the fame flowed financial donations for its operation. Reshet, however, moved to the U.S. in the summer to be with his new American wife. He promised the commander that he would continue to help the Legion,
accounts were followed by hundreds of thousands of users. Along with the fame flowed financial donations for its operation. Reshet, however, moved to the U.S. in the summer to be with his new American wife. He promised the commander that he would continue to help the Legion,
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and so along with him went the access details to all of its social media accounts and the money accounts, such as PayPal and others, into which money from donors flowed. During Reshet's stay, however, he began to experience an increasingly fundamental relapse of a severe
and so along with him went the access details to all of its social media accounts and the money accounts, such as PayPal and others, into which money from donors flowed. During Reshet's stay, however, he began to experience an increasingly fundamental relapse of a severe
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mental illness from his youth. Suddenly, he was posting hundreds and then thousands of new posts on the Legion's Twitter account. Most of them make no sense, but Reshet also invents nonexistent combat operations, insults anyone from Ukrainian officers to American politicians
mental illness from his youth. Suddenly, he was posting hundreds and then thousands of new posts on the Legion's Twitter account. Most of them make no sense, but Reshet also invents nonexistent combat operations, insults anyone from Ukrainian officers to American politicians
7/21
and a number of one and the other follow the Georgian accounts. Reshet did not respond to Mamuka's calls for him to unsubscribe from their social media accounts. By then, he was routinely calling even me in the middle of the night. I listened to his paranoia and tried
and a number of one and the other follow the Georgian accounts. Reshet did not respond to Mamuka's calls for him to unsubscribe from their social media accounts. By then, he was routinely calling even me in the middle of the night. I listened to his paranoia and tried
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in vain to calm him down. All this would still elicit at most a smile and embarrassment. Reshet began to gradually hand the commander access to the Legion's accounts. It would be enough for Mamuka to apologize to the offended supporters and soon everything would be forgotten
in vain to calm him down. All this would still elicit at most a smile and embarrassment. Reshet began to gradually hand the commander access to the Legion's accounts. It would be enough for Mamuka to apologize to the offended supporters and soon everything would be forgotten
9/21
On September 20, 2024, a key text was published on the Ukraine Today portal. In English, it was titled Georgian Legion: evidence convicts its commander of lying about his poisoning to obtain financial donations and setting up a dubious NGO with a convicted American fraudster
On September 20, 2024, a key text was published on the Ukraine Today portal. In English, it was titled Georgian Legion: evidence convicts its commander of lying about his poisoning to obtain financial donations and setting up a dubious NGO with a convicted American fraudster
10/21
It later emerged that, although the portal tries to give the impression of a serious media outlet, it is not registered in any country. Its operator and apparently sole contributor is called Jay Beecher, a British citizen and former member of the British extremist
It later emerged that, although the portal tries to give the impression of a serious media outlet, it is not registered in any country. Its operator and apparently sole contributor is called Jay Beecher, a British citizen and former member of the British extremist
11/21
political party UKIP, from which he was expelled on suspicion of financial fraud. Almost immediately after the text was published, its content spread at breakneck speed on Twitter (X). This is highly unusual given that Ukraine Today was until then a completely unknown
political party UKIP, from which he was expelled on suspicion of financial fraud. Almost immediately after the text was published, its content spread at breakneck speed on Twitter (X). This is highly unusual given that Ukraine Today was until then a completely unknown
12/21
site that had been created only a few months earlier. Until now, it had published nothing but generic articles that were obviously compilations lifted from other media outlets. With Reshet's departure, the unit found itself in a strange situation. Their former internet
site that had been created only a few months earlier. Until now, it had published nothing but generic articles that were obviously compilations lifted from other media outlets. With Reshet's departure, the unit found itself in a strange situation. Their former internet
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mage created a huge fan base for them, then challenged the unit with strange statements, and then disappeared. Soldiers and commanders seasoned in combat but not in internet discussions suddenly found themselves in an information vacuum they couldn't fill. This at a moment
mage created a huge fan base for them, then challenged the unit with strange statements, and then disappeared. Soldiers and commanders seasoned in combat but not in internet discussions suddenly found themselves in an information vacuum they couldn't fill. This at a moment
14/21
when tens of thousands of indignant posts thundered at them daily with accusations and demands for the accounting to be made public. When I met Mamuka again after returning from the front, he was just addressing an upcoming combat operation. He gave me a stern look when
when tens of thousands of indignant posts thundered at them daily with accusations and demands for the accounting to be made public. When I met Mamuka again after returning from the front, he was just addressing an upcoming combat operation. He gave me a stern look when
15/21
I urged him to take immediate action to calm the situation, which was worsening by the day. "For me, the decision comes down to whether I'm going to save my unit's online reputation or the lives of my men on the battlefield. I don't have anyone to take my place.
I urged him to take immediate action to calm the situation, which was worsening by the day. "For me, the decision comes down to whether I'm going to save my unit's online reputation or the lives of my men on the battlefield. I don't have anyone to take my place.
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And certainly no one who can spout bullshit to the Russian trolls here." The account named @strakovic151 is a real person. He blithely shared content about Georgians spread by the Russian disinformation campaign on the day of the main attack and the publication of
And certainly no one who can spout bullshit to the Russian trolls here." The account named @strakovic151 is a real person. He blithely shared content about Georgians spread by the Russian disinformation campaign on the day of the main attack and the publication of
17/21
Beecher's article. His theses were among the most radical at the time and even outstripped the mainstream accusations about the non-existence of the unit. Among other things, he claimed that many Ukrainian lives had been drowned in the Georgian Legion's deception.
Beecher's article. His theses were among the most radical at the time and even outstripped the mainstream accusations about the non-existence of the unit. Among other things, he claimed that many Ukrainian lives had been drowned in the Georgian Legion's deception.
18/21
This account belongs to the aforementioned Richard Straka. Surprisingly, this is an author who works in a renowned Slovak project aimed at combating misinformation on social networks. Straka was one of the most aggressive disseminators of disinformation in the early days
This account belongs to the aforementioned Richard Straka. Surprisingly, this is an author who works in a renowned Slovak project aimed at combating misinformation on social networks. Straka was one of the most aggressive disseminators of disinformation in the early days
19/21
of the disinformation campaign. When I had the opportunity, I asked him what credible information he was basing his claims on. He claimed “open sources” - and he obviously considers the Twitter accounts of other users making the same accusations to be open sources.
of the disinformation campaign. When I had the opportunity, I asked him what credible information he was basing his claims on. He claimed “open sources” - and he obviously considers the Twitter accounts of other users making the same accusations to be open sources.
20/21
I subsequently approached the author of the article himself. He declined telephone contact, agreeing only to written communication. However, after two hours of correspondence, he failed to answer my key questions - why he did not include a single word in the article about
I subsequently approached the author of the article himself. He declined telephone contact, agreeing only to written communication. However, after two hours of correspondence, he failed to answer my key questions - why he did not include a single word in the article about
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his findings on the transparency of the Legion's accounting. Nor why he focused on proving a finding that no one questioned.
🔓Unlocked:
dennikn.sk/4446991/ruska-…
his findings on the transparency of the Legion's accounting. Nor why he focused on proving a finding that no one questioned.
🔓Unlocked:
dennikn.sk/4446991/ruska-…
@threadreaderapp pls unroll
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