Hungarian FM: Take it as honour, attack by international liberal media is evidence of Georgia’s patriotic political strategy

“I think you have to take it as a matter of honour and pride that international liberal media attacks you, because this is the reason for this is your patriotic and sovereign political strategy,” Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in response to a question from a Georgian journalist regarding a BBC report.

“First of all, I think you have to take it as a matter of honour and pride that international liberal media attacks you, because this is the reason for this is your patriotic and sovereign political strategy. If you go with the mainstream, if you are fully aligned with the mainstream, if you fulfil the instructions coming from Brussels, then international media will be happy with you. But then you don’t do anything for your country. Once you go against the mainstream, once you are not ready to be fully in line with the liberal ideological mainstream, you will always be attacked. You have to get used to it. But the main thing is what your people think. So, if you wanna satisfy your people and not to satisfy international media, then you’re gonna win elections, and you will be attacked by international media. I think it’s a much better combination compared to if it was the other way around, supported by international media and losing elections. That’s not something what we want. So, we will continue to support Georgia. We will continue to tell the European Union leadership that they should show respect towards your country. They should show respect towards your government. And, we will never agree with sanctions against Georgia. We will keep up the visa-free regime for Georgians. And we hope that a patriotic shift of European politics will come soon, and then you will be not attacked. That’s a strategy I can put together for you,” he stated.

For reference, the BBC has published an article titled “WW1 toxic compound sprayed on Georgian protesters, BBC evidence suggests.” In the article, the BBC discusses the alleged use of a World War I–era chemical agent during recent protests in Georgia.

The report cites several sources, including paediatrician Konstantine Chakhunashvili, former head of the Special Tasks Department Lasha Shergelashvili, and expert Christopher Holstege. Eka Gigauri and Giorgi Bachiashvili are also featured as respondents. In the material, Shergelashvili states that he believes it is the same compound he was asked to test for use in water cannon in 2009.

The BBC also notes that Georgia’s authorities described the findings as “deeply frivolous” and “absurd”, insisting that law enforcement had acted “within the bounds of the law and constitution” when responding to the “illegal actions of brutal criminals”.

Today, the Georgian Dream party issued a statement announcing that it is initiating legal proceedings against the BBC in international courts.