Parliament Speaker: Russia eager to restore Soviet Union

Georgia’s Parliament Speaker Davit Usupashvili believes Russia is eager to restore the Soviet Union.

In a television interview, Usupashvili commented on the developments in Ukraine and said each country, including Georgia, was doing what it believed was necessary and correct in response to the crisis in Ukraine.

"We, Georgians, did what we believed was required and we did it in support of Ukraine and to solve our problems. Our position is clear; Georgia’s condition is significantly different from all other countries who declare its solidarity with Ukrainian people because until now, Russia has not occupied the territory of these countries except Georgia,” Usupashvili said on the Tbilisi-based Tabula TV talk show on Thursday.

"We face current threats from the Russian authority, which is deriving from the presence of the Russian troops on Georgia’s territory and the case of Georgia is not closed too.”

Usupashvili believed Russia was eager to restore the Soviet Union - a socialist state on the Eurasian continent that existed between 1922 and 1991, governed as a single-party state by the Communist Party with Moscow as its capital. It was effectively dissolved on December 8, 1991 when the presidents of Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia met in secret and formed the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Usupashvili said it was "quite clear” for world leaders that the situation was not resolving in Ukraine, and "the attempts of the Kremlin aimed not only to block energy lines or to satisfy the imperial ambitions but to restore the Soviet Union.”

"This is Russia’s plan, and to create guarantees for Georgia we have to act accordingly.”

Asked why representatives of Georgian authorities had not yet arrived in Ukraine, Usupashvili replied: "Ukraine is being visited and has to be visited by people who have the ability to influence the processes. Georgia can also influence this but our tools that are statements, positions, reactions and by the bilateral relations with the international organisations and the acting Government of Ukraine.”

He added the Georgian Government had a permanent collaboration with multiple countries and sometimes details of such relationships, such as phone calls and meetings, were not always released to the public.

Usupashvili highlighted the Government had taken necessary steps needed to support Ukraine. Similarly, Ukraine had taken steps that were needed for Georgia in the 2008 Russia- Georgian war, Usupashvili said.

On August 12, 2008, Latvian Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis alongside the Presidents of Ukraine, Poland, Estonia and Lithuania arrived in Georgia and took part in the mass rally in Tbilisi to show solidarity with Georgian people in Georgia's conflict with Russia.

"There is a great difference between the visions when and what we would have to do. Georgia needed the Ukrainian President here in Georgia in 2008. As soon as the Georgian President and the Speaker of Parliament is needed in Ukraine, we will go to Kiev immediately. We will do what is need for the job and not for the purpose of appearing on TV,” Usupashvili said.

Georgia’s Parliament Speaker was confident the Georgian Government would never be involved in political speculation.

"We will never make a decision that will not be discussed with the leaders of those countries that affects the result, including Ukraine,” he stressed.

Usupashvili also believed developments in Ukraine had been caused by the impunity of Russia as an aggressor country.