Ruling party MP slams NGOs statement calling for Gov’t position on Ukraine as “incomprehensible”

Guram Macharashvili, an MP from the Georgian Dream ruling party, has slammed a joint statement by a number of Georgian non-governmental organisations calling for a “clear position” in support of Ukraine “incomprehensible”, pointing to the Government’s positions at international institutions as efficient demonstrations of support for the country amid the Russian invasion.

Commenting on the statement released by 22 NGOs on Wednesday , Macharashvili said the organisations “do not understand” that statements made by the Government at the United Nations, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the International Criminal Court are “more damaging” to Russia than calls made “on the level of the Security Council” of the ruling party.

In their statement, the group of NGOs had demanded from the Georgian Government to take a “clear position in support of Ukraine” and “clearly state commitment to the international sanctions regime” imposed by the Western countries to Russia as a response of its invasion of Ukraine last month.

Georgia has “publicly stated its position against Russia” and made clear its pro-Ukraine positions, Macharashvili said, adding “most of the Georgian society thinks more intelligently” in reference to the non-governmental organisations.