Georgian PM says “biased” conclusions by “elite NGOs” used for US Department of State report on human rights practices in country
Garibashvili said the release was based “mainly” on “biased, subjective and unfair” conclusions provided by domestic NGOs, and highlighted the existence of “hundreds of non-governmental organisations in the country” as evidence of “open democracy” in Georgia. Photo: Government Administration
Tweet 
Share
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday said the United States Department of State critical report on human rights practices and restrictions on media in Georgia had been based on information by “politically engaged” and “elite” domestic non-governmental organisations.
Released on Monday, the report highlighted “significant” human rights issues in the country such as “serious problems” with the independence of the judiciary, along with investigations and prosecutions “widely considered to be politically motivated”, “serious restrictions” on freedom of expression and media, including violence and threats of violence against journalists.
Garibashvili said the release was based “mainly” on “biased, subjective and unfair” conclusions provided by domestic NGOs, and highlighted the existence of “hundreds of non-governmental organisations in the country” as evidence of “open democracy” in Georgia.
He also accused NGOs of spreading “false information around the world and try[ing] to discredit the image of our country”, and added his Government was confronting the alleged narratives by “the truth”, which he said “no report can stand up to”.
I became familiar very briefly with the report and the main points that are highlighted. I would like to point out that it is unfortunate that the report is based mainly on [...] biased, subjective and unfair conclusions that were provided and prepared by the so-called elite NGOs, which is certainly unfortunate”, Garibashvili told the local media.
“These are just speculations and conclusions and reports based on false, fabricated information provided by politically engaged, biased individuals. This is not interesting for us”, the head of the Government continued.
He also highlighted the country's “open democracy” by noting the report had relied on information prepared by independent and critical media outlets, but added “their information is not 100 percent based on facts but [instead on] fabricated, false information”.
[B]ut that's normal. This is part of democracy. We are not against it - we are confronting all this with the truth, and no report can stand up to the truth”, the PM concluded in his comments to the press.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday sent warm wishes to those celebrating the Nowruz holiday, in a message marking the celebration particularly for ethnic Azerbaijani citizens of Georgia.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili will on Tuesday have “important meetings” with officials at the European Commission ahead of the body’s reports on the country’s European Union membership candidate status, Vakhtang Makharoblishvili, Georgia’s representative to the bloc, has told the media.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday congratulated domestic media on Georgian Journalism Day by saying their work was “key” to the democratic development of the country and the construction of its “European future”.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday marked World Down Syndrome Day by acknowledging the Government’s “obligation” to “create an equal environment where each member of the public will be able to realise their potential”.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday said the world was facing “World War III” on the backdrop of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and stressed maintaining “peace” and “stability” in the country was his “main concern” amid the challenges.