Georgian President: ‘it’s regrettable that major outlet like BBC allows itself to damage our country with unverified information’

Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili on Tuesday criticised the BBC for publishing what he described as unverified information that harmed the country.

Speaking to reporters, Kavelashvili said it was “very unfortunate” that such a globally recognised media organisation would “allow itself” to disseminate incorrect material.

“For me, this is nothing new. Not long ago, [US] President Trump filed a complaint against the BBC over disinformation, which resulted in changes in the outlet’s leadership,” Kavelashvili said.

He drew parallels to past coverage involving former President Mikheil Saakashvili, recalling instances when international media outlets, including the BBC and CNN, allegedly hired medical experts through lobbying firms to promote narratives suggesting the Georgian Government was poisoning Saakashvili.

“Strasbourg rejected all of this and confirmed that nothing was wrong. He looks perfectly fine now and is full of fighting spirit,” he added.

Kavelashvili stressed that all actions directed against the state must be thoroughly investigated.

“The main thing is a full investigation. Everything directed against the state must be examined. [Doctor Konstantine] Chakhunashvili [one of the medical experts interviewed in the BBC's investigative film] through whom the BBC built its film, is now saying he never discussed the alleged substance at all. I call on law enforcement agencies, the Prosecutor’s Office and the State Security Service to conduct a complete investigation,” he stated.