Georgian PM highlights Gov’t’s focus on “national, state interests”, not external alignments

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday claimed the deep state’s agent network modus operandi, particularly in countries like Georgia, was characterised by a complete disregard for democracy and human rights, media monopolisation, suppression of free speech, and the torture of individuals.

In his interview with Rustavi 2 TV channel, Kobakhidze emphasised that his Government was guided by national and state interests, which he described as the principal foundation of its political path.

The PM highlighted that a deep state agent network was active in Georgia between 2004 and 2012, leaving a legacy of authoritarian governance, arguing that this network severely violated democratic principles and human rights.

“They came to power in 2004 and left in 2012, but their rule was marked by the signature of the deep state. Especially in countries like ours, such networks are characterised by complete disregard for democracy and human rights, media monopolisation, suppression of free speech, and torture. We remember how they created a Georgian version of “Guantanamo”. The media landscape was monopolised, much like what we see across Europe today, and that model was imposed in Georgia during their rule”, the PM said.

The Prime Minister further noted that the deep state structure had felt threatened by the end of 2011 and had responded by branding their political opponents as “pro-Russian” in an effort to avoid losing power.

“This term - ‘pro-Russian’ - was introduced by them back then to distract from the removal of the deep state network from power. They brought much suffering to our country. Thankfully, events took a different course. No one believed those narratives then, just as no one does now”, he continued.

Kobakhidze added that, just like in 2012, “the Georgian people in 2024 again made a conscious choice in favour of a national political force” - one that did not define itself through geopolitical labels but was driven by national and state interests.

“Our political force stands out precisely because it is guided by national and state interests. This remains our fundamental starting point”, the PM concluded.