Parliament Speaker alleges “misinformation and fake news” on Shovi resort landslide

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday alleged a “misinformation and fake news” campaign had followed the landslide that hit western Georgia’s Shovi resort on Thursday and killed at least 20.

In his remarks over the matter, Papuashvili alleged “hatred” towards the Government and “desire to attract attention with scandals”.

Unfortunately, along with the disaster these days, we also had to fight against misinformation and fake news. It seems that the hatred towards the Government and the desire to attract attention with scandals blinds some people so much that they are ready to invent, believe and spread any hoax”, he said.

“What was happening on TV and social media these days can be easily described as an informational attack on the Georgian public, the purpose of which is to create distrust towards the Government, cause confusion in the public and sow panic”, he continued.

Criticism on the Government’s handling of the disaster in the media included questions about timeliness of arrival of initial rescue teams on the scene and wider questions about environmental warning signs ahead of the landslide. 

In his comments, the chief Georgian legislator also called the disaster and its outcome “unprecedented in the recent history” of the country, and “once again” offered his condolences to the families of the deceased.