Georgian Parliament Speaker accuses Polish Government of creating propaganda tool to influence Georgian society

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said that the Polish government has created a propaganda instrument aimed at influencing Georgian society, identifying journalist Natia Koberidze as its public face.

Speaking to journalists, Papuashvili said Koberidze is widely associated in Georgia with disinformation, propaganda, and the “spreading of hysteria”.

“We have seen a statement by the EU ambassador in which we were threatened with civil war. Pavel Herczynski is an employee of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is seconded to the EU, but remains part of the Polish foreign service - the same ministry that created this propaganda instrument under the leadership of its main propagandist, Natia Koberidze”, Papuashvili said.

He compared the media structure to Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines in Rwanda, which he said was created to incite hostility in society.

“That radio brought about genocide in Rwanda. The Polish Foreign Ministry has created a propaganda tool to spread hate in Georgia. At the same time, Pavel Herczynski is threatening us with civil war, and the European Commission spokesperson supported the announced October 4 ‘overthrow’ rally. We are dealing with a hate propaganda instrument. This is another hostile step against the Georgian people”, he concluded.