PM condemns David Gareji media campaign as anti-state fabrication aimed at obscuring opposition corruption

“The media campaign surrounding David Gareji, alongside similar disinformation narratives pushed through shadow media outlets, represents anti-state conduct that warrants a robust official response,” declared Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.

Addressing journalists, the Head of Government stressed that no amount of fabricated media noise can distract from past systemic issues, including corruption.

“The hallmarks of a commissioned campaign are blatantly clear. These campaigns are built entirely on falsehoods, including the narrative surrounding David Gareji. Anyone with even a basic understanding of state affairs recognises that decisions on issues of this magnitude cannot be made behind closed doors, particularly given that every single decree of the Georgian Government is fully transparent and published.

Nevertheless, specific individuals and a specific media outlet attempted to orchestrate a campaign around a matter of supreme national sensitivity. This entire affair exposes the fundamentally anti-state nature of those who commissioned and executed this campaign. Regrettably, such developments take place within our country,” Kobakhidze stated.

When asked who might be bankrolling such campaigns, the Prime Minister noted that whilst he does not possess hard evidence, which remains the purview of law enforcement agencies, the political actors seeking to exploit the narrative are plain to see.

“Because I do not hold concrete evidence, such facts are best left to law enforcement authorities to establish. I could only offer speculation, but everyone saw quite clearly who stepped in to give this orchestrated media campaign a political veneer and exploit it for political speculation. Beyond that, the public must draw its own conclusions; standard logic leads to clear answers.

Broadly speaking, this campaign touches upon an issue so sensitive that it could easily give rise to legal proceedings; though any such decision ultimately rests with the competent state authorities,” the Prime Minister concluded.