Georgian PM accuses European bureaucracy of rejecting media freedom

Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday said that representatives of the European bureaucracy have “openly declared that media freedom does not exist for them”, arguing that one country is now attempting to interfere in another by seeking to shut down television channels.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Kobakhidze argued that recent actions and rhetoric have served as a “full illustration” of the current state of European politics, claiming that officials are now openly attempting to interfere with the media landscapes of sovereign nations.

“The outcome is already clear for me - the curtain has been fully lifted. Whereas previously they at least formally were speaking about high standards, including media freedom, today they have directly stated that media freedom does not exist for them. One country can attempt to shut down television channels in another. This was an entirely futile move, but the intention was there”, the prime minister said.

Kobakhidze added that discussions in the European Parliament indicated continued efforts in this direction, though he argued such attempts would yield no practical results.

The PM further claimed that fundamental rights standards - including constitutional norms and international human rights principles - were being disregarded, and that earlier formal commitments to media freedom and pluralism had now been openly abandoned.

“These developments are important for our society. We have had to prove certain things over the years. Such gross violations, which we are now witnessing from European bureaucracy and the authorities of the United Kingdom, help us demonstrate to the public the extent to which what was once a values-based European bureaucracy and European politics has deteriorated. This is extremely serious”, he said.

“There is no legal standard under which the decision taken by the United Kingdom - now being discussed by the European Parliament - can be justified; it cannot even be explained. However, it is useful in terms of full exposure, and Georgian society can clearly see this”, the PM continued.

The prime minister further referred to sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom, stating they had only a short-lived effect of several days and ultimately failed to produce tangible outcomes.

“These processes help our society clearly see the reality”, Kobakhidze concluded.