Georgian experts treat video message of IS fighters as staged

A video message of fighters of the "Islamic State" (IS) with threats against Georgia raises a number of questions, including a question of its authenticity. This opinion was expressed by experts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 23, some Georgian media published a video message entitled "Islamic State threatens Georgia". The video shows several people pointing out to the oppression of Muslims in Georgia, calling for support of the IS, and threatening the country with advent of "caliphate".

On November 27, in response to the video message of the IS fighters, Sozar Subari, Georgian Minister for Refugees, urged the population of the country to refrain from emotional responses to the possible arrival of refugees from the Middle East.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by political analyst Gela Vasadze, co-Director of the NGO "Free Zone", there is no proof that the video was shot by the IS fighters, and that fact raises a number of questions.

According to Gela Vasadze, the fact that members of the armed grouping voiced threats against soldiers, involved in combat actions in Afghanistan and Iraq, is very similar to the rhetoric of Russia, which opposes the participation of the Georgian troops in actions in Afghanistan, since the operation has become one of the most important factors in the integration of Georgia into NATO.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.