British Ambassador Accused of Spreading Misinformation About BBC Report

Georgian Parliament Chairman Accuses British Ambassador of Spreading Disinformation

In a sharp diplomatic rebuke, Georgian Parliament Chairman Shalva Papuashvili has accused the British Ambassador to Georgia of deliberately spreading disinformation during meetings with university students, calling the alleged behavior “alarming” and inappropriate for a foreign diplomat.

“It is alarming when an ambassador is directly involved in spreading disinformation, and doubly alarming that this is done through meetings with students, imposing a disinformation narrative and effectively brainwashing them,” Papuashvili stated during a recent press conference.

The controversy erupted following reports that the British Ambassador had met with Georgian students and discussed deteriorating political relations between the UK and Georgia, allegedly attributing the tension to “anti-democratic pressure on the opposition and civil society” by the Georgian government.

Papuashvili firmly rejected these characterizations, describing them as “a lie and a politically orchestrated campaign against the Georgian government.” The chairman drew a provocative comparison to illustrate his point: “Can you imagine if the Georgian Ambassador went to universities in the United Kingdom and engaged in a political campaign against the British government?”

The accusation comes amid increasing tensions between Georgia and several Western allies. Over the past year, Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party has faced international criticism regarding democratic backsliding, including concerns about press freedom and the treatment of opposition figures. The government has consistently denied these allegations, often framing them as foreign interference in domestic affairs.

In his comments, Papuashvili specifically mentioned a recent BBC report about Georgia, suggesting a connection between the ambassador’s alleged actions and media coverage critical of the Georgian government. “When the ambassador himself is involved in spreading anti-Georgian disinformation aimed at a political campaign against the government, it is no surprise that BBC disseminates disinformation,” he remarked.

The chairman went further, insinuating potential coordination between British diplomatic and media entities: “This raises further questions that society is asking: who is really behind the BBC report – is it the independent initiative of a single journalist, or a hybrid operation against Georgia involving state participation?”

Georgia, a former Soviet republic with aspirations for European Union and NATO membership, has seen its relationship with Western partners grow increasingly strained. The ruling Georgian Dream party has been accused of adopting more authoritarian governance methods and drawing closer to Russia, allegations the government vehemently denies.

The British Embassy in Tbilisi has not yet publicly responded to Papuashvili’s accusations. Diplomatic tensions between the two countries have periodically flared in recent years, but direct accusations against ambassadors remain relatively uncommon in international relations.

Political analysts note that Georgia’s strategic position in the South Caucasus region has made it a focus of competing geopolitical interests. The country remains of significant importance to both Western nations and Russia, particularly following the 2008 Russo-Georgian War and ongoing tensions over the Russian-backed breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

This diplomatic incident highlights the increasingly polarized political environment in Georgia, where accusations of foreign interference and “hybrid warfare” have become common in political discourse. It also reflects broader tensions between Georgia’s stated Western aspirations and concerns about its democratic trajectory.

As Georgia approaches parliamentary elections scheduled for later this year, relations with Western partners like the United Kingdom will likely remain under scrutiny, with implications for the country’s international standing and its domestic political landscape.