EU Commission Accuses Georgian Government of 'Russian Propaganda' and Undermining Democracy Over Local Elections
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
The European Commission has sharply criticized the Georgian Dream government over the recent local elections, accusing it of conducting "Russian propaganda" and undermining democratic standards.
"The Georgian government is conducting Russian propaganda," said Anitta Hipper, the European Commission's lead spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in response to a journalist's question about the elections. She described the government's actions as "Russian textbook propaganda," particularly regarding the spread of disinformation and attacks on the EU ambassador.
Hipper said the elections were marked by "an extensive crackdown on media, on civil society, on opposition parties," noting that voter turnout was low and that many opposition groups boycotted the vote. She also criticized the authorities for failing to invite international observers from the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in due time, calling the delay a blow to the transparency and credibility of the process.
"We have also seen that the Georgian authorities have failed to invite in due time international observers from the ODIHR, and this undermined the transparency and credibility of this democratic process," she said. "We have also seen that the Georgian authorities are conducting Russian propaganda. It's textbook propaganda when it comes to disinformation, when it comes to the attacks on our ambassador, who has our full support."
Hipper added that the European Union condemns violence "from all sides," urging citizens to express dissent through peaceful means.
"The EU has always called for peaceful protests and demonstrations. We condemn any form of violence," she said.
The remarks come amid growing tension between Brussels and Tbilisi, as EU officials warn that Georgia's democratic backsliding and anti-Western rhetoric are jeopardizing its European integration path.
The Speaker of the Georgian Dream Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, responded to Hipper's remarks on social media, dismissing the accusations.
"When you don't have an argument, you call your opponent a Russian - it's from Ackerman's textbook," Papuashvili wrote, referring to what he called a common political tactic used to discredit opponents.
