Tobias Cremer: Georgian Dream fears a free press like a vampire fears the light, because they know they can only survive in the shadows

The ruling Georgian Dream party fears a free press like a vampire fears the light, because they know they can only survive in the shadows, MEP Tobias Cremer (Germany) said during a debate in the European Parliament on the case of Mzia Amaglobeli, founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti.

According to him, more than 400 journalists, opposition representatives, as well as ordinary citizens, are being detained and tortured in Georgia. Cremer also noted that the light of a free press and a free society is the most powerful weapon against tyranny.

“Media freedom is not a luxury. It is a democratic necessity. It shines where corruption and autocracy hide. And that is why the Georgian authorities have imprisoned Mzia Amaglobeli, one of the country’s most respected journalists, for more than 150 days.

And this is not an isolated incident. More than 400 Georgian journalists, both opposition and ordinary citizens, have been detained, tortured, or imprisoned. Colleagues, the ruling Georgian Dream party fears a free press like a vampire fears the light, because they know they can only survive in the shadows.

Oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili knows that Georgians do not want him and he is in the shadow of the Putin regime, which uses disinformation, intimidation, and manipulation because it knows that Georgians will never choose to live the way Russians do.

Colleagues, the light of a free press and a free society is the most powerful weapon against tyranny. So, we can only call on the Georgian authorities to come out of the shadows, drop politically motivated accusations and allow the Georgian people to freely choose their future in the light,” he said.

For information, the European Parliament is currently debating the case of Mzia Amaglobeli, the founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti.

The topic of the debate is: “Media freedom in Georgia, in particular the case of Mzia Amaglobeli”. In addition, tomorrow MEPs will vote on a resolution: “Media freedom in Georgia, in particular the case of Mzia Amaglobeli”.