Georgia’s ruling party official: we will not retreat or kneel before any enemy of Georgian statehood

Irakli Kirtskhalia, the chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party faction in the legislative body, on Wednesday criticised the British government’s recent actions against Georgian broadcasters, labeling the sanctions against Imedi TV and POSTV as “absurd” and “categorically unacceptable”.

Kirtskhalia argued that the attacks on free Georgian media lack any underlying depth or analytical merit, claiming this emptiness is “obvious at first glance”.

The majority leader highlighted that despite the gravity of the sanctions, neither the British government nor its ambassador to Georgia has provided a single factual argument to justify the move. He specifically addressed recent comments by former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who suggested that the UK Foreign Office reached its decision based on a “deep analysis” regarding disinformation about Ukraine.

“That there is no in-depth analysis behind the attack on free Georgian media is obvious at first glance - particularly given the disgraceful wording suggesting that Georgian television channels were allegedly destabilising Ukraine and threatening its territorial integrity”, Kirtskhalia said, adding he was confident Johnson had no elementary knowledge of the broadcasters or their journalistic activities.

He recalled statements by Ukrainian officials, including David Arakhamia, who claimed that Johnson had visited Kyiv after the Istanbul negotiations and urged the Ukrainian side not to sign any agreement and to “just fight”.

Kirtskhalia further noted that, according to Johnson’s own later statements, between 2016 and 2022 there had never been even a minimal chance of Ukraine joining NATO, as any such proposal would have immediately been vetoed by several member states.

He described as “cynical” the fact that Ukraine’s refusal to join NATO had been among the key issues in the peace talks that Johnson disrupted.

Kirtskhalia further characterised Johnson as a high-ranking agent of the deep state, suggesting his involvement in Georgian affairs was far from coincidental.

“Today, a country facing a profound existential crisis, with virtually no economic growth, while the problem of migrants and rising crime pose major threats, is criticising Georgia for speaking the truth. Meanwhile, in that country, in 2024 alone, more than 12,000 people were held accountable over conservative-content posts published on Facebook, and amid the Epstein scandal, first the King’s brother and then a member of the ruling party and the former British Ambassador to the United States were arrested in succession”, he noted.

The official further referred to legal disputes involving the British public broadcaster BBC, claiming that both the US President Donald Trump and the Georgian authorities had launched legal action against the outlet over what he called disinformation.

“In light of all the above, and amid constant military escalation worldwide and particularly in our region, when even one reckless step could put Georgia’s very existence at risk, we understand that such attacks will continue”, he said.

“As a responsible government, we will firmly continue the struggle for peace and our sovereignty. Once again, we emphatically declare that we do not intend to retreat or kneel before any enemy of Georgian statehood”, Kirtskhalia concluded.