Kobakhidze calls Starmer sanctions 'Britain's shame', labels UK leader 'world's most unpopular PM’

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has launched an attack on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, describing him as the "world's most unpopular prime minister" while condemning British sanctions imposed on Georgian media outlets.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Kobakhidze said the sanctions targeting the domestic Imedi TV and POSTV reflected poorly on the United Kingdom and accused London of attempting to undermine media freedom in Georgia.

"The most highly rated media company in Georgia was sanctioned by the world's most unpopular prime minister, who resigned in tears yesterday. This is karma returning to Mr Starmer," Kobakhidze said.

The prime minister described the sanctions as "Britain's shame", arguing that the move was inconsistent with the country's reputation as a defender of human rights and democratic values.

"It is Britain's shame because Britain has traditionally been considered the birthplace of human rights, yet it decided to shut down a television station in Georgia and attack free media in our country," he said.

Kobakhidze also criticised the British official personally, saying the he bore responsibility for the decision and claiming his political standing had weakened significantly.

The Georgian prime minister insisted that neither Imedi TV nor POSTV would face operational difficulties as a result of the sanctions and pledged that both broadcasters would continue to operate without interruption.

"We guarantee that neither Imedi TV nor POSTV will face any problems in terms of functioning, and media freedom in Georgia will be fully protected," Kobakhidze said.

He further claimed that the government remained committed to safeguarding media pluralism regardless of what he described as external pressure from the British authorities.