Georgian Parliament Speaker: ruling Georgian Dream party will not back down in ongoing BBC complaint process

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said that the ruling Georgian Dream party has submitted a third official complaint to BBC, following earlier complaints that were not accepted by the broadcaster.

Speaking to journalists, Papuashvili noted that the Government is handling the matter with “great scrupulousness” and that significant work has gone into ensuring the complaints are properly substantiated.

“We are very meticulous in our approach to this issue. A lot of effort is being made to ensure that our complaints are properly justified, which they are. We are waiting for a response; we have not yet received one”, he said.

Papuashvili also stressed that the ruling party does not intend to back down and will continue to pursue what it describes as the truth.

The dispute concerns a BBC investigative report related to allegations about the use of chemical substances during the 2024 protests in Georgia. The Georgian Dream party has filed formal complaints demanding a retraction and apology, but the broadcaster has reportedly rejected the previous two submissions.