PM Kobakhidze accuses European politicians of attacking media freedom

Georgia’s Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, has accused some members of the European Parliament of undermining media freedom, describing their actions as a "harsh attack” on a core European value.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Kobakhidze said criticism from European figures amounted to opposition to “traditional European values”, arguing that media freedom itself had been disregarded by certain politicians.

“When representatives of the European Parliament directly attack media freedom in another country, it speaks for itself,” he said. “This is a direct and harsh attack on media freedom.”

The prime minister also claimed that what he described as disinformation coming from European political circles reflected a broader problem within European institutions.

He specifically referred to Rasa Juknevičienė, suggesting she and others had not moved beyond their “Soviet-era past.”

Kobakhidze said the issue extended beyond individual figures, arguing that “Soviet-style disinformation” had become a wider challenge within parts of the European political establishment.

He added that Georgian officials had repeatedly raised their concerns with European counterparts, including the leadership of the European Parliament, but said the overall climate remained “very tense”.

Kobakhidze concluded that, in such conditions, individual discussions were unlikely to have a significant impact.