NEWS

Defence Ministry rejects “false” journalist comment on Gov’t refusing US base project in 2021

The Ministry’s comment came after a report by journalist Lika Basilaia-Shavgulidze, who on Tuesday said the Government had rejected the prospect during the visit of Lloyd Austin to Georgia in 2021. Photo: MOD of Georgia

Agenda.ge, 13 Sep 2023 - 17:31, Tbilisi,Georgia

The Georgian Defence Ministry on Wednesday dismissed comments by a Georgian journalist on an alleged refusal by the country’s Government to open a United States military base in Georgia during the visit of the US Defence Secretary two years ago as “false”.

The Ministry’s comment came after a report by journalist Lika Basilaia-Shavgulidze, who on Tuesday said the Government had rejected the prospect during the visit of Lloyd Austin to Georgia in 2021.

The [...] information published in the media, which concerns the US-Georgia military and political relations, [...] is completely false in its content”, the statement said.

“This information is disseminated by a politically biased person [and] then used by individual media outlets and politically engaged persons to launch a disinformation campaign”, the Ministry alleged.

The statement also called on the public to rely on “verified information”, “especially when discussing topics of such importance”.

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PM Garibashvili to US Defense Secretary: your visit is a ‘very strong message’

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“Fake news” on media “harms reputation” of Georgia, US - Parliament Speaker

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Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday said “fake news” on media “harmed the reputation” of both Georgia and the United States, after the US Embassy rejected comments by a local reporter on an alleged rejection by the Georgian Government of plans for a launch of a US military base in the country in 2021.