Georgian Dream claims UK ruled by ‘deep state’ after calls for sanctions in House of Commons

The Georgian Dream party has reacted strongly to a recent report from the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, alleging that the UK government is controlled by a “deep state.” Following recommendations for new financial and travel sanctions on Georgian officials, the committee voiced serious concerns regarding the continued decline of democracy in Georgia. They warned of a potential entrenchment of autocracy, influenced by Russia, similar to Belarus. The report highlighted the Georgian Dream’s business connections with China, the utilization of anti-Western narratives, and the suppression of civil society and independent media.

It urged the British government to impose sanctions on Georgian Dream officials involved in the Foreign Agents Registration Act, alongside Georgian kleptocrats and media organizations spreading disinformation. This action, the committee stated, would deter efforts to undermine Georgia’s desire for European alignment and demonstrate support for Georgian democracy. Georgian Dream MP Levan Machavariani dismissed the report as ridicule, claiming the party has lost interest in British pronouncements and asserting the UK is subject to a “deep state” influence, referencing former Prime Minister Liz Truss’s use of the term.

Figures within the Georgian Dream, including Bidzina Ivanishvili and Irakli Kobakhidze, frequently express similar conspiratorial views. The UK has already sanctioned several Georgian officials, including Ivanishvili, and recently targeted pro-government television channels, Imedi and POSTV, for disseminating Russian disinformation. Facing these sanctions, Imedi has announced plans to establish its own bank.

The situation raises questions about the future of Georgian banks’ relationships with sanctioned media outlets. The House of Commons committee’s stance underscores ongoing tensions between the two nations.

Topics: #georgian #house #commons