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Georgian Gov’t, United States “are allies, period” - Parliament Committee Chair

The Parliament official responded by saying “no Georgian official” had made a statement in relation to Degnan, pointing out that “for Georgia, America is a strategic partner”. Photo: Parliament of Georgia

Agenda.ge, 21 Jul 2022 - 15:14, Tbilisi,Georgia

The Government of Georgia and the United States “are allies, period”, Irakli Kadagishvili, the Chairman of the Rules and Procedural Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, said on Thursday.

Kadagishvili was commenting on a statement by the US Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price, who on Wednesday said that “disinformation and personal attacks on Ambassador Degnan or her team are not consistent with how partners communicate with one another”, in remarks related to Georgia.

The Parliament official responded by saying “no Georgian official” had made a statement in relation to Degnan, pointing out that “for Georgia, America is a strategic partner”.

No official has made any statement regarding Kelly Degnan, which is a matter of fact. Of course, America is a strategic partner for Georgia, the path to the European Union is a strategic choice, and on this path, the Georgian Government demands only one thing - to have an open attitude and relationship, direct communication and an open cooperation on all issues”, he concluded in his comments.

The comments by Price followed a recent statement by Tbilisi City Court Judge Lasha Chkhikvadze, who on Friday alleged interference of an Embassy representative in his sentencing of Nika Gvaramia, the founder of the opposition-minded Mtavari Arkhi channel, to imprisonment in May.

Degnan on Friday said any suggestion of the US interfering in the judicial process in Georgia was “simply not true”.

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