**Georgia’s Lelo Party Slams “Slanderous” Report by Rustavi 2**
The Georgian opposition party, Lelo – Strong Georgia, has strongly condemned a report by the country’s popular TV station, Rustavi 2. According to the party, the report claimed that its leader, Mamuka Khazaradze, sent a representative to Moscow on April 9 for secret meetings.
However, the party claims that this information is completely false and aims to discredit them. In fact, one of their members, Tamar Romelashvili, was in Moscow attending a family member’s funeral when her border crossing caught the attention of security services.
**”KGB-style Methods” Will Not Work**
Lelo – Strong Georgia has been a vocal critic of the Russian government and its ties with the occupying state. The party has been actively promoting European values and defending national interests since its founding five years ago.
The party’s leadership sees this report as an attempt to smear them using KGB-style methods, which have been used in the past to discredit opposition figures. This tactic is unlikely to succeed, according to Lelo – Strong Georgia, as it will not be believed by anyone who knows their track record of exposing Russian regime ties and promoting European values.
**Appeal to Journalistic Ethics**
The party has announced that they will appeal to the Charter of Journalistic Ethics in response to this disinformation. They claim that Rustavi 2’s report is a clear example of propaganda and slander, which undermines trust in media outlets.
This development highlights the ongoing tensions between Georgia’s opposition parties and the government, as well as the challenges faced by journalists in maintaining their independence and integrity in the face of political pressure.
As the situation unfolds, it will be interesting to see how Rustavi 2 responds to Lelo – Strong Georgia’s accusations. Will this incident mark a turning point in the way media outlets cover politics in Georgia? Only time will tell.