Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has claimed that US President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the BBC proves the broadcaster’s involvement in what he described as a coordinated “hybrid operation” against Georgia, accusing the outlet of acting as a political propaganda tool rather than an independent media organization.
Speaking to the media, Papuashvili said the lawsuit highlights the extent to which the BBC is allegedly willing to manipulate or falsify information for political purposes. He claimed that the case demonstrates that the broadcaster prepared and disseminated politically motivated content ahead of elections with the aim of discrediting Donald Trump.
“The BBC crafted a story before the elections aimed at undermining Donald Trump. Behind this are clear political motives and an alleged political directive—specifically, a political operation against the US President,” Papuashvili stated.
He argued that the lawsuit exposes what he called the myth of Western media standards, claiming the BBC operates as part of a centralized propaganda system rather than an impartial public broadcaster. “Once again, the fairy tale about media standards collapses. What we see is a propaganda machine controlled by a single conglomerate operating across multiple countries. This only reinforces and confirms our longstanding claims against the BBC,” he said.
Papuashvili also linked the Trump lawsuit to Georgia’s own disputes with the broadcaster, asserting that recent BBC reporting on Georgia formed part of a broader hybrid campaign targeting the country. “These developments—especially the Trump case—serve as further evidence that this was a hybrid operation against Georgia, with the BBC acting as a propaganda instrument,” he added.
Speaker claimed that Georgian authorities are preparing legal action of their own. He said the Parliament’s legal team is working on relevant documentation and is considering filing complaints with the UK media regulator Ofcom, as well as pursuing other legal avenues. Papuashvili noted that the process may involve seeking legal assistance in the United Kingdom to ensure proper representation.
“Our lawyers are actively working on this issue. We will use all available legal mechanisms to expose the BBC’s falsifications and pursue this matter through legal channels,” he said.
For background, US President Donald Trump has announced that he has filed a lawsuit against the BBC, seeking USD 10 billion in damages. Trump alleges that the broadcaster engaged in politically motivated reporting intended to influence public opinion ahead of elections. Georgian officials have repeatedly criticized BBC reporting on Georgia in recent years, accusing the outlet of bias and misinformation—claims the broadcaster has previously rejected.
Image source: 1TV
