“Propaganda outlets financed by the EU budget—On.ge and Publica—refer to the stalking of a democratically elected representative and a deliberate assault in the presence of a minor child as a ‘meeting’,” Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, commented on the attack on Member of Parliament Mariam Lashkhi.

Papuashvili emphasises the importance of Brussels abandoning the harmful practice of supporting propaganda media, like the new U.S. administration.

“The EU-funded propaganda outlets On.ge and Publica are calling the stalking and deliberate attack on an elected representative—conducted in front of a minor child—a ‘meeting’—in an apparent effort to diminish the severity of the incident,” he stated.

He further pointed out that despite being formally separate platforms, both outlets disseminate virtually identical texts, indicating coordinated action.

“It is crucial that, much like the new U.S. administration, Brussels ceases funding propaganda media that distort facts and undermine democratic values,” Papuashvili concluded.

The Speaker refers to the coverage of a circulated video capturing an incident involving civil society activists Magda Mamukashvili and Tatia Apriamashvili, and parliamentary majority member, MP Mariam Lashkhi. The footage, published on May 17, shows the activists arriving at a café where Mariam Lashkhi was present with her children, shouting: “Freedom for the regime’s prisoners!” and “Down with Russia’s slaves!”