Alt-Info

Alt-Info is a private TV Company and online information portal in Georgia. It was founded in 2019 as a conservative media platform to "counter aggressive liberal censorship". Alt-Info was granted an authorisation by Georgian National Communications Commission in November 2020.[1] It launched TV broadcasting in January 2021.

Alt-Info Ltd. was founded by Shota Martinenko and Ciala Morgoshia in January 2019, who each own half of the company's shares.[2] Members of Alt-Info participated in organization of several demonstrations and protests, including the protests against Tbilisi Pride in 2021.[3] One of the sponsors of Alt-Info is Konstantine Morgoshia, a businessman who was founding member of Georgian March and Alliance of Patriots. In November 2021 members of Alt-Info established a political party called Conservative Movement. The party was officially registered by the National Agency of Public Registry on 7 December.[4] Members of Alt-Info were also involved in founding of the non-profit (non-commercial) legal entity Alternative for Georgia in 2019.[2]

The platform describes as its main goal to "overcome aggressive censorship imposed by the ideological mainstream and supply audience with as complete and objective information as possible".[5]

On 5 November 2020 Facebook stated that it removed network connected to Alt-Info for "coordinated inauthentic behaviour".[6] Its official website was attacked and shut down by hackers on 1 March 2022.[7]

Conservative Movement/Alt Info
Conservative Movement/Alt-Info
კონსერვატიული მოძრაობა/ალტ-ინფო
ChairmanGiorgi Kardava
General SecretaryShota Martynenko
FounderZurab Maharadze
Giorgi Kardava
Irakli Martynenko
Shota Martynenko
Konstantine Morgoshia
Founded20 November 2021 (2021-11-20)
Registered7 December 2021 (2021-12-07)
IdeologyNational conservatism
Christian democracy[8]
Protectionism
Pro-Russia
Political positionRight-wing to far-right[9]
Colours  Maroon
Parliament
0 / 150
Website
conservativemovement.ge
alt-info.ge

Members of Alt-Info founded a political party in late 2021. The party was named Conservative Movement (Georgian: კონსერვატიული მოძრაობა, romanized: k'onservat'iuli modzraoba), which was registered by the National Public Registry Agency on December 7. The founding congress was held on November 20, 2021. On April 11, 2022, the name of the party was changed to Conservative Movement/Alt Info (Georgian: კონსერვატიული მოძრაობა/ალტ-ინფო, romanized: k'onservat'iuli modzraoba/alt'-inpo). The members of the party declared as its main goals to build a conservative force which would be an alternative to both the governing Georgian Dream and opposition United National Movement, establish christian democracy instead of liberal democracy in Georgia, and pursue closer relations with Russia.[10] It views Georgia's socio-economic problems as relating to Georgia's strained relationship with the Russian Federation. The party maintains that Georgia can restore its territorial integrity only through normalization of relations with Russia and claims that Georgia would benefit more from being an ally of Russia and joining the Eurasian Economic Union. According to the party, the West is promoting liberal ideology in Georgia which is pervasive, globalist and anti-Christian, threatening the Georgian identity. On the other hand, the Christian Russia is natural ally of Georgia in preservation of Christian identity.

The party has not participated in any election yet.

On July 2, 2022, the party organized the demonstration against the gay parade and European integration in response to a pro-EU demonstration in Tbilisi asking the European Council to grant Georgia the status of a candidate for accession.[11]

Alt-Info has been distinguished from similar movement by its readiness to use violence in order to achieve political goals. Its leader Zura Makharadze stated that 'I can and plan to defend my values, including with force [...] I am ready to act with force against this [gay parade]'. According to the movement, using violence to combat "decadent liberalism" which threatens Georgian nation is justified.[12][13]

Konstantine Morgoshia, one of the sponsors and founding members of the party, has stated in interview to Vice that he 'does not believes in democracy [meaning Western liberal democracy]' and that his movement 'will change many laws' when it will rise to power.

References
  1. "მაუწყებლობის ავტორიზაციები". Communications Commission. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  2. "Alt-Info". Myth Detector. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  3. "Interrogation of Guram Palavandishvili and Alt-Info members over". Report.ge. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  4. "Right-wing media outlet Alt-Info officially registered as political party". Agenda.ge. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  5. "Alt-Info".
  6. "Facebook Removes Networks Linked to Alliance of Patriots, Alt-info". Civil.ge. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  7. "Georgian hackers shut down Alt-info website". queer.ge. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  8. "Alt-Info group to establish political party". 1tv.ge. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  9. https://civil.ge/ru/archives/487563 Зураб Махарадзе рассказал об уходе с поста председателя Консервативного движения
  10. "Alt-Info group to establish political party". 1tv.ge. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  11. "Mass demos against NATO, EU, propaganda and Globohomo". 2 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  12. "Face of Georgian pro-Russian group Alt Info dropped as party leader". 25 April 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  13. "RUSSIAN INFLUENCE IN GEORGIA: DECEMBER 2022". 27 December 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
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