Russia initiates first "fake news" case over post about the war in Georgia

In Russia, possibly the first criminal case for "fake" information about the army has been opened concerning a publication about the 2008 war in Georgia. The editor-in-chief of "Dozhd," Tikhon Dzyadko, reported that his acquaintance, a journalist, is under investigation, according to NewsBox.

A criminal case has been initiated in Russia, likely the first of its kind, for spreading "fake news" about the armed forces regarding a publication dedicated to the events of 2008 in Georgia. This was announced by "Dozhd"'s chief editor, Tikhon Dzyadko.

According to him, the case involves his acquaintance, a journalist whose name has not been disclosed yet. The investigation centers on a post in which she wrote about alleged war crimes committed by Russia during the five-day war. This message was published on the anniversary of the conflict, and authorities have classified it as a "fake" about the Russian military.

Dzyadko noted that this incident might set a precedent.

This means that everyone in Russia should thoroughly review their social media, because if there's a first case, there will be more— not just concerning Georgia, but also Chechnya, Syria, and elsewhere, he wrote.