Russian propaganda is gaining significant influence in the country, and over the past 2-3 years, the Kremlin has been regularly praising Georgia's leadership, – Georgia’s fifth president, Salome Zurabishvili, stated this during a hearing at the UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee.
Salome Zurabishvili responded to a question about how the Georgian Dream party has changed over the past 13 years.
"I wouldn’t say over the full 13 years, because when they came to power in 2012, they acted according to their program. Their program was the continuation of Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic path. It was this ruling party that, in 2018, adopted an article stating that all institutions in Georgia must support the country's European course, making it a common goal for all political forces in the country. This is the article I referenced during the impeachment process.
It is clear that a change began around 2021. Georgian Dream started consolidating power, restricting the media and judiciary. This was a slow process that intensified during the war in Ukraine, leading to direct anti-European and anti-Western rhetoric. Statements were made that Georgia would not join sanctions and that partners were planning to open a 'second front' in Georgia," Zurabishvili stated.
When asked why this shift happened, Zurabishvili suggested that perhaps their pro-European stance was only superficial.
"It could be that their pro-European stance was only superficial, and it was acceptable as long as there were no major challenges. But as soon as challenges arose, Russia began exerting pressure on individuals over whom it has certain leverage—and Bidzina Ivanishvili is one of them.
Russian propaganda is gaining significant influence in the country, and over the past 2-3 years, the Kremlin has been regularly praising Georgia's leadership. Both the country’s foreign and domestic political courses have changed," Georgia’s fifth president stated.
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