Georgian PM condemns opposition leader Baramidze's remarks as 'disgraceful'

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has condemned comments by opposition politician Giorgi Baramidze, describing them as "disgusting" and accusing him of making false statements about Georgian culture and society.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Kobakhidze said Baramidze's remarks had targeted "everything Georgian", including the country's culture, humanity and civilised values.

He said statements of this kind could not be justified and argued that they reflected what he called the character of the "collective United National Movement".

Kobakhidze also criticised what he described as the broader opposition's response to Baramidze's comments, saying that although some negative remarks had been made, opposition-aligned television channels had largely ignored the issue.

"Baramidze made a disgraceful statement, and none of the party-affiliated television channels dares to make a proper comment on it," Kobakhidze said.

He accused the broadcasters of acting as "ordinary party agents" and following what he called external instructions.