Georgian Dream Denounces UK Sanctions and Appeals for U.S. Reset
By Messenger Staff
Monday, March 2, 2026
The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party's political council, led by Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, released a sweeping statement on February 27. The council addressed the UK's decision to sanction Imedi TV and POSTV, while calling for a fundamental change in the United States' diplomatic stance toward Georgia.
The statement began by condemning the British sanctions as "an unprecedented example of an open attack on free media," labeling the official justification of fighting disinformation as both "tragic" and "comical". GD leaders claimed the real motive was to assist a "discredited, half-dead opposition" at the behest of "foreign ill-wishers".
The council also accused the domestic opposition of acting as a "foreign agentura" that prioritizes the instructions of "foreign patrons" over the will of the Georgian people.
"It is logical that they expect salvation only from their foreign patrons, especially when it is clear that they are not merely struggling but are on the verge of political extinction," the party said.
Addressing the impact of the sanctions, GD remained defiant, stating: "No sanction can force a national broadcaster to renounce telling the truth and informing Georgian society."
The statement went on to define the "external force" it believes is influencing European policy, describing it as an "informal force that has entrenched itself today within the European bureaucracy."
"Whether we call these forces the Deep State, the Global War Party, or oligarchic families, the fact is that it is precisely such an informal force that has entrenched itself today within the European bureaucracy," the party said.
Turning to the United States, the GD political council expressed strong support for the policy shifts of the current American administration. They pointed to the closure of foundations like USAID and NED as a positive step toward non-interference.
"By President Trump's order, the revolution-funding foundations, including USAID and NED, were demonstratively shut down, and they were closed in a way that openly exposed their covert interferences," the council said.
The party also mentioned U.S. leaders like Vance, Rubio, and Gabbard, noting that "the U.S. no longer intends to interfere in the political processes of other countries." They argued that the opposition's continued reliance on U.S. support "raises additional question marks" in light of these stated policies.
Ultimately, GD framed its relationship with Washington as a litmus test for the success of American domestic political battles.
"As for the U.S., we continue to maintain hope that the fight declared by Donald Trump against the so-called Deep State will conclude with his victory," the party stated. "The best proof of this will be a change in the American administration's attitude toward Georgia."
The statement concluded by calling the current diplomatic distance "illogical", noting: "We continue to maintain an optimistic expectation."
