Chairman of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili told journalists today that Brussels, on one hand, praises the Georgian government for its compliance with the EU sanctions policy against Russia; on the other, it funds the dissemination of disinformation against Georgia.

Papuashvili described this as a clear sign of “bipolar disorder” within Brussels.

“There is a ‘second self’ in Brussels, and we are witnessing bipolarity. The EU’s top representatives have repeatedly lauded Georgia for its actions regarding sanctions. As a country bordering Russia, Georgia is naturally in a risk zone; many might think it could use Georgian territory to circumvent sanctions. However, the Georgian government has developed such effective control mechanisms that not only have we received no reproach from Brussels, but there have been numerous instances of praise, including an official letter. That’s one side, the ‘first self’.

However, there is the ‘second self,’ Brussels funding NGOs like Transparency International, which are actively engaged in accusing Georgia of manoeuvring to circumvent sanctions. The European Union’s money is paid for this. Brussels is effectively funding the spread of this disinformation.

This inconsistency prompts us to question what is really happening. Brussels must clarify who truly represents its stance. If Georgia’s compliance with sanctions is worthy of praise, then why is Brussels funding disinformation campaigns against it?

Brussels directly funds organisations such as Transparency International, Factcheck, ISFED, and others to disseminate false narratives against Georgia.

In essence, this is not merely a double standard but a display of bipolar disorder within Brussels,” said Papuashvili.

The Georgian government has received an official letter from the EU Special Envoy for Sanctions, David O’Sullivan, in which he expresses gratitude “for the commitment demonstrated at the highest level and the steps already taken to prevent the circumvention of EU sanctions against Russia.”