“When we talk about certain so-called online media, this is one big scheme — as if they are media organizations. In reality, they are ordinary NGOs that have a website; they are NGOs with microphones — they should not say they are journalists! Because journalism means reporting stories impartially, not creating stories,” said Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, regarding online media outlets.

According to the Speaker, “online media are Brussels’ propagandists, and the proof of this is that they do not disclose their funding sources.”

“By their philosophy, structure, and standards, these are NGOs with websites, because no journalistic standards exist for them. We see their actions — they are NGOs with microphones. How do you distinguish ‘Publika’ from ‘Transparency International’? What is the difference? There is no difference in their attitudes or standards. The only difference is that they are ‘Transparency International with microphones,’ which uploads more texts on its website than Transparency International. They should not say they are journalists! Because journalism means reporting stories impartially, not creating stories.”

“They are not media because they hide their funding. Every television channel publicizes its finances to the Communications Commission so that viewers know who stands behind it. Open the website of any so-called online media and try to see who finances them — they hide their donors. Why do they hide them? Because they are ordinary propagandists funded by Brussels, whose only purpose is to establish a narrative beneficial to Brussels.”

“Is ‘Radio Free Europe’ media? It was created by the Central Intelligence Agency — it was an organization created by an intelligence service, funded by the U.S. budget. The current government cut its funding because it said it is a weapon of propaganda. And who funds it today? The European Union funds it. Where does leaked information always end up? At ‘Radio Free Europe’! How is it that information leaks only in that direction from the European Commission and not anywhere else? Because it is Brussels’ regular propaganda mouthpiece. A propagandist must be called a propagandist, a journalist must be called a journalist.”

“We see attempts to bypass Georgian legislation. Brussels itself tries to bypass it — while telling us not to bypass sanctions and restrictions they imposed on Russia, they themselves want to bypass our laws. Money has to be transferred to Estonia, cash has to be carried in suitcases, cryptocurrency transactions have to be made — such enormous criminal energy is invested in this that they go as far as criminal offenses, legal violations, tax evasion, and other crimes. The issue is that these donors push local organizations to break the law. Everyone — Brussels, Stockholm, and every other capital — should respect Georgia’s sovereignty and stop circulating money here through cryptocurrencies and suitcases.”

According to Papuashvili, “Brussels-funded media in Georgia are also fueling xenophobia.”

“The media create xenophobic narratives, and those narratives are created by EU-funded media. What greater shame could Brussels or the EU Delegation have than being involved in xenophobia — in a disease Europe experienced 100 years ago, and today, decades later, xenophobia is being disseminated in Georgia with EU money,” Papuashvili stated.