Chairman of the Georgian Dream’s parliamentary faction criticized Reporters Without Borders [RSF] for including Bidzina Ivanishvili [Founder / Honorary Chair of the ruling party] on its so-called “Press Freedom Predators” list, describing the move as absurd and politically motivated.

As he noted, linking Bidzina Ivanishvili to the appropriation of press freedom would be laughable to any Georgian with patriotic convictions.

“Mentioning the appropriation of press freedom and Mr Bidzina Ivanishvili in the same context is something that would make any nationally minded Georgian smile. I believe this needs no explanation. It is also no secret that, for a number of objective reasons, the Georgian public does not take this organisation’s expertise, statements or assessments seriously.

It seems that the logic of the “Deep State” is that the more grandiose the lie, the more absurd and unbelievable the accusation, and the more shamelessly it crosses all boundaries, the more convincing it should sound. It is as if its power lies precisely in this extremity: repeat a lie often enough, with sufficient determination and frequency, and despite its absurdity, the accusation itself will eventually be presented as fact.

Our political team believes that this absurdity, published by one of the instruments controlled by the Global War Party, and, more specifically, this latest attempt to put pressure on Bidzina Ivanishvili and Georgian Dream, should be used to demonstrate how their mechanisms operate against leaders and national forces that refuse to act in the interests of informal oligarchic groups. These are forces that choose peace over war, freedom over obedience, and sovereignty over submission to the dictates of foreign powers”, - said Irakli Kirtskhalia.