Georgian FM: unfounded campaigns against Georgia often originate from countries involved in actions benefiting Russia

Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili on Tuesday said that repeated disinformation campaigns targeting Georgia’s image had come from countries that themselves had been linked to actions benefiting Russia.

Commenting on reports regarding the export of rubber from the European Union to Russia via Latvia, Botchorishvili addressed what she described as a pattern of unfounded campaigns aimed at harming Georgia’s reputation and national interests.

“These are the countries that very often are the very authors of the negative trends that we later encounter in Brussels. Unfortunately, the campaigns our country has experienced have always been unfounded and aimed at damaging our image and reputation and harming our interests”, she said.

The Minister noted that such disinformation directly harmed Georgia’s national interests and international standing, making it particularly troubling when it came from countries allegedly involved in economic activities that benefit Russia.

“We are talking about our national interests - when such campaigns are launched and disinformation about our country is spread, this damages Georgia’s interests. Sadly, we have seen this many times, and it is very unfortunate that this continues precisely from those countries that are apparently involved in certain actions benefiting Russia”, Botchorishvili concluded.

According to Latvian media reports, nearly 2,000 tons of natural rubber were exported from the European Union to Russia via Latvia last year.