Meta, mid-August, announced the removal of a coordinated inauthentic behavior (CIB) network originating from Russia that was targeting Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. The network, which was dismantled after an internal investigation, included 76 Facebook accounts, 30 Pages, and 11 Instagram accounts. The operation was reportedly designed to manipulate public opinion in these countries through fictitious news websites and fake social media profiles, the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), a Georgian non-profit, reported.
According to Meta’s report, the network operated by creating and promoting fake news websites tailored to the specific countries they targeted. These websites, which had distinct branding to appear legitimate, spread politically charged content across various platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Telegram, and TikTok.
In Georgia, the network focused on recent protests against the controversial “foreign agent law,” with posts that criticized the demonstrators and supported the ruling Georgian Dream party. In Armenia, the operation posted content supportive of Russia, criticized Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and commented on the detention of a former Armenian official in Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, in Azerbaijan, the network shared posts critical of the West and focused on local events.
“The Russian network spent about $77,000 on advertising. During the protests against the Russian law, reports operating in Georgia criticized the participants of the protest and supported Georgian Dream,” says the information released by ISFED.
Meta’s investigation revealed that the network was linked to individuals associated with a Moscow-registered marketing firm called IMA Digital. The operation spent about $77,000 on ads, primarily paid for in US dollars, to boost their reach and visibility.
Meta discovered this network as part of an ongoing internal investigation into repeated attempts by actors associated with previously removed inauthentic behavior, initially flagged by ISFED.
