How foreign intelligence agencies exploit media in Georgia Response to investigation

Shadow funding of media opposing the state’s sovereignty and democracy supports activities that undermine democratic processes, Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party lawmaker, Rati Ionatamishvili, said.

He commented on the results of the journalistic investigation by "Imedis Quira," which claims that in August 2025, 22 media entities joined into a single network operating under the guise of media and, according to the investigation, serve the interests of foreign intelligence agencies against Georgia, Caliber.Az reports per Sputnik Georgia.

“Shadow funding essentially means financing dark deeds, and these dark deeds always conflict with noble and healthy ideas, projects, and processes. The same situation is observed here, as these structures are fighting against our sovereignty, Georgian democracy, and economy,” Ionatamishvili noted.

In this context, the politician recalled European Union (EU) Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos’s statement that the EU continues to support civil society in Georgia, despite it being “very challenging” at present. Kos noted that the EU is seeking ways to provide funding without threatening the survival of these organisations.

Parliament Vice-Speaker Giya Volski added that transferring funds to NGOs in Georgia is not difficult — it only requires openly informing the public about the amounts received and the projects funded.

However, he said, the objectives of such organisations remain opaque.

“Accordingly, a network is created through which money flows. Unfortunately, this is usually done by Georgians themselves, with Georgian hands. We could even name quite well-known individuals, their surnames, and there is a whole network of online media actively working on this propaganda front,” Volski noted.

A journalistic investigation by ‘Imedis Quira’ uncovered documents exposing a widespread scheme in which online media work to maintain artificial protests and attempt to shape public opinion through their websites, social media, and other media platforms.

To carry out covert influence campaigns and other psycho-informational activities benefiting foreign intelligence agencies, a network of more than 800 people—representatives of online media and so-called investigative journalists—was created in Georgia with the involvement of the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA).

They operate according to a plan developed by intelligence agencies.

By Jeyhun Aghazada