On November 24, the Prime Minister of Georgian Dream, Irakli Kobakhidze, stated that “associations funded from foreign countries are acting against the development of our country.”
He was responding to a report aired on Imedi’s Week on November 23, in which the pro-government media disseminated a disinformation piece against Light Media, a coalition of 22 independent online media outlets, referring to the media as “agents of foreign intelligence services” and accusing them of receiving funding through illegal means.
According to Irakli Kobakhidze, the goal of these media outlets is to “disrupt the processes of economic development.”
Before Irakli Kobakhidze commented on the report aired on the pro-government channel, the Speaker of Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, had already responded.
On July 15, 2025, “Georgian Dream” Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze accused Nodar Meladze, head of the news service of independent broadcaster “TV Pirveli,” of being “financed by specific individuals.” According to the disinformation statement: “There are specific people who some think are ‘Nationals’ and in reality they are financed by specific persons who were suspected of corruption and who had to leave the team… Nodar Meladze, who receives directives from this specific group suspected of corruption regarding the dissemination of specific information.”
On July 14, “Georgian Dream” Executive Secretary Mamuka Mdinaradze also made a statement against Nodar Meladze and accused him of “agency speculation.”
On July 10, 2025, the Prime Minister of “Georgian Dream,” Irakli Kobakhidze, accused Mazia Amaghlobeli, the founder of “Batumelebi/Netgazeti,” of carrying out a “specific assignment” and of “demeaning and insulting” the police.
“This case [Mazia’s case] is very important to them [Members of the European Parliament], and why – because they intended to undermine the law enforcement structures in Georgia, because they know very well that if the law enforcement structures are undermined, the entire state will be undermined, and of course, Mazia Amaghlobeli carried out a specific assignment in this regard. She attempted to undermine the law enforcement structures, to undermine the police,” Kobakhidze said.
Irakli Kobakhidze made a similar statement against Mazia Amaghlobeli, the founder of “Batumelebi/Netgazeti,” on April 16, during a broadcast on “Rustavi 2.”
Mazia Amaghlobeli, the founder of “Batumelebi” and “Netgazeti,” has been in unlawful detention for six months. The journalist was initially arrested on January 11, 2025, for putting up a sticker and was shortly released. Soon after, on January 12, 2025, she was arrested under criminal law for slapping the head of Batumi police, Irakli Dgebuadze.
On July 9, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on Georgia, calling for Mazia Amaghlobeli’s release. Local and international organizations have also demanded her release.
