MEP Tomasz Froelich slams European Parliament over Imedi TV accreditation decision

European Parliament member Tomasz Froelich on Friday slammed the decision of the European Parliament to suspend the accreditation for Imedi TV, accusing the EU legislative body of double standards.

In his remarks with Imedi TV, Froelich stressed that the European Parliament’s rhetoric regarding free media is detached from reality.

“In the European Parliament, there is frequent emphasis on pluralism, freedom of speech and free media. Yet, this rhetoric is hollow as freedom of expression in this house evidently applies only to those who share the same views, clearly demonstrated by the exclusion of free Georgian media outlets. The gap between the EU's aspirations and the reality remains wide. Media outlets with differing opinions should also be engaged”, Froelich said.

The European Parliament has recently restricted Imedi TV from performing its professional duties within the parliament building for a period of one year.