Georgian Foreign Minister and Vice Prime Minister Maka Bochorishvili, speaking at the 135th session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, addressed the challenges facing Europe and noted that wars and conflicts are not the only threats undermining the foundation upon which Europe is built.
The Ministry reports that in this context, the Minister raised the issue of media freedom, stating that representatives of three Georgian television channels — Imedi TV, Rustavi 2, and POSTV — were denied entry to Moldova, preventing them from performing their professional duties to cover the session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
“Today, journalists from three different Georgian television channels who intended to cover our meeting were denied entry to Moldova and were not allowed to carry out their professional duties. It is deeply concerning when freedom of speech and media freedom are interpreted selectively,” the Minister stated.
Bochorishvili noted that criticism is a natural component of democracy, but she emphasized that when political objectives are prioritized over facts, it leads to the erosion of trust rather than the strengthening of democracy.
Furthermore, the Vice Prime Minister addressed the issue of double standards that the authorities believe are being applied to Georgia by Brussels.
Bochorishvili emphasized that it is hypocritical to speak of “democratic backsliding” while simultaneously supporting radical forces that reject participation in elections.
“It is hypocrisy to lament the so-called ‘backsliding of democracy’ while encouraging radical forces that refuse to participate in elections; to claim ‘support for the Georgian people’ while demonstratively distancing oneself from the government elected by those very people; to speak of the rule of law while seeking ways to circumvent the law and justice,” the Georgian Foreign Minister emphasized.