Papuashvili Accuses Online Media and Foreign Donors of Spreading Propaganda and Evading Georgian Law
By Liza Mchedlidze
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Speaker of the Georgian Dream-led Parliament Shalva Papuashvili has sharply criticized several online media outlets, accusing them of operating as nongovernmental organizations rather than legitimate journalistic institutions. Responding to questions about their role, he argued that these platforms misrepresent themselves and fail to follow accepted reporting standards.
Papuashvili said, "When we talk about certain so-called online media, this is one big scheme, as if they are media organizations. In reality, they are ordinary NGOs that have a website, they are NGOs with microphones, they should not say they are journalists. Because journalism means reporting stories impartially, not creating stories."
He described these outlets as politically motivated and linked to European institutions. According to him, "online media are Brussels' propagandists, and the proof of this is that they do not disclose their funding sources."
The Speaker argued that the platforms in question resemble activist groups rather than newsrooms. "By their philosophy, structure, and standards, these are NGOs with websites, because no journalistic standards exist for them," he said. "How do you distinguish Publika from Transparency International? What is the difference? They are Transparency International with microphones. They should not say they are journalists."
Papuashvili also accused the outlets of hiding their donors. "Every television channel publicizes its finances so that viewers know who stands behind it. Open the website of any so-called online media and try to see who finances them, they hide their donors. Why do they hide them? Because they are ordinary propagandists funded by Brussels, whose only purpose is to establish a narrative beneficial to Brussels."
He extended his criticism to Radio Free Europe, claiming it functions as an intelligence-linked propaganda tool. "It was created by the Central Intelligence Agency. The government cut its funding because it said it is a weapon of propaganda. And who funds it today? The European Union funds it. Leaked information always ends up there because it is Brussels' regular propaganda mouthpiece."
Papuashvili went on to allege that foreign donors are attempting to bypass Georgian regulations. He said, "Brussels itself tries to bypass our laws. Money has to be transferred to Estonia, cash has to be carried in suitcases, cryptocurrency transactions have to be made. Such enormous criminal energy is invested in this that they go as far as criminal offenses, legal violations, tax evasion, and other crimes." He added that international partners should respect Georgia's sovereignty and stop circulating funds through covert channels.
Papuashvili claimed that foreign-funded media outlets contribute to rising xenophobia in the country. "The media create xenophobic narratives, and those narratives are created by EU-funded media," he stated. "What greater shame could Brussels or the EU Delegation have than being involved in xenophobia, a disease Europe experienced 100 years ago, and today xenophobia is being disseminated in Georgia with EU money."
