Georgian Dream accuses Reporters Without Borders of targeting Ivanishvili over press freedom listing

Georgian Dream has criticised Reporters Without Borders for including the party’s founder and honorary chairman, Bidzina Ivanishvili, on its list of press freedom predators.

Speaking at a briefing at the party’s Gorgasali office, parliamentary majority leader Irakli Kirtskhalia described the organisation’s assessment as absurd and claimed that the Georgian public does not take its statements and evaluations seriously.

“Mentioning Mr Ivanishvili in the same context as the capture of press freedom is amusing to any nationally minded Georgian, and I believe this requires no explanation,” Kirtskhalia said.

He also accused the organisation of repeating “false and implausible allegations”, arguing that the repeated dissemination of such claims was intended to make them appear credible.

Kirtskhalia further described Ivanishvili’s inclusion on the list as another attempt to exert pressure on the Georgian Dream founder and the ruling party.

He also alleged that the listing reflected the activities of what Georgian Dream refers to as the Global War Party, claiming that international forces were targeting leaders and political movements that prioritise peace, freedom and national sovereignty over what he described as foreign influence.