Georgian MP: Russia does not influence Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova

A Georgian Dream Member of Parliament has delivered a poignant speech to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) outlining the tragic events in Tbilisi 25 years ago where more than 20 people participating in a peaceful protest were killed by Russian aggression.

While speaking to the Council in Strasbourg last night, Tina Khidasheli also reiterated Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine were independent states and were not accountable to Russia.

"On April 9, 25 years ago the Russian Army invaded in my hometown to disperse a peaceful demonstration. Twenty one people were killed and thousands were poisoned. But we still felt happy that tragic night. We felt happy because there were signs of the end of the empire and we believed the whole world would be fighting for peace not allowing imperialism anymore,” Khidasheli stated.

"Unfortunately, it feels like we are still there 25 years later – still full of hope. Meanwhile, Russia continues to send its troops to occupy another independent state year by year. It seems that we, and the rest of the world, cannot conform to this,” she added.

She reminded PACE members this was the 21st Century and the Soviet Union was over.

"Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova are independent states, no matter how horrible it may sound. These states make their own choice by themselves and Russia is not the part of this choice. This is a fact and it is not going to change,” Khidasheli said.

She believed Crimea and Transnistria would definitely be returned to Ukraine and South Ossetia and Abkhazia would be returned to Georgia, as it was inevitable according to "the logic of history”.

"Today, my colleagues, we should support Ukraine’s democratic Government and tomorrow, respond to Russia with an analogical sharp and clear answer statin there is no place in this assembly, in this hall with us, for people who vote for the occupation and annexation of independent states,” Khdiasheli strongly stated.

In a Resolution adopted at the end of an urgent debate today, PACE members agreed the so-called referendum in Crimea was unconstitutional.

"Its outcome and the illegal annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation is unconstitutional therefore has no legal effect and will not be recognized by the Council of Europe”, the Parliamentary Assembly stated.

The parliamentarians said none of the arguments used by the Russian Federation to justify its actions held true to facts and evidence.

"The drive for secession and integration into the Russian Federation was instigated and incited by the Russian authorities under the cover of a military intervention”, read the Resolution.

It recommended the signatories of Budapest Agreement and other relevant European States to "explore the possibility for tangible security agreements to ensure Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

The Assembly fully recognised the legitimacy of the new authorities in Kiev and the Verkovna Rada (Ukraine’s Parliament), as well as the legality of their decisions.

The parliamentarians considered that the change of power in Ukraine had opened a window of opportunity for Ukraine’s democratic development. They urged the Verkhovna Rada to adopt constitutional amendments necessary to establish a better balance of power between the President and legislature and to bring the Constitution fully into line with Council of Europe standards.