Georgian PM calls for legal response to “foreign-imposed hatred”

Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday said that one of the main goals of foreign interference, including the financing of NGOs, was to incite hatred within Georgian society and undermine public trust toward national institutions.

Speaking to journalists, Kobakhidze noted that Georgia must respond with legal mechanisms to prevent external actors from imposing division and hostility on the country.

“You could clearly see what one of the main objectives of foreign interference was, including the financing of NGOs - it was the incitement of hatred within our country, within society, and hatred toward institutions. We must counter this with legal mechanisms. This is necessary to ensure that no one from outside imposes hatred on us”, the PM said.

He claimed that foreign involvement in Georgia’s political processes, including foreign funding of NGOs, followed a “clearly defined line” aimed at promoting hate speech and social polarisation.

He welcomed an initiative announced by the vice prime minister and state minister responsible for coordinating law enforcement agencies, saying the government would pay significant attention to the effective work of the relevant unit.

Kobakhidze added that similar patterns of interference and attempts to fuel hostility can be seen in other countries where “the same forces” seek to influence domestic political processes.

“This is not a phenomenon unique to Georgia. In every country where the same forces attempt to interfere in local processes, we see attempts to impose hatred using the same methods. This requires a very strong response, and that is exactly what the announced initiative is related to”, he concluded.