“Dancing to Russian tune” - expression - is insult to “self-respecting, ancient”, Georgian nation - PM

The expression “dancing to the Russian tune” has been an insult to a “self-respecting, ancient” Georgian nation, Irakli Garibashvili, the Georgian Prime Minister, said on Thursday in his comments to the media on President Salome Zourabichvili’s statement.

Zourabichvili earlier today said Georgia’s one of the priorities had to be taking care of its citizens, as well as former citizens abroad, and “not dancing to the tune and at the time ordered by the Kremlin”. She was responding to the Russian Government’s yesterday’s decision to lift its ban on flights with Georgia and visa requirements for citizens of the country.

Garibashvili said the President had her position, but it did not represent an executive policy, as it was represented by the Prime Minister, the ruling party and the Parliament, implementing domestic and foreign policies.

“Zourabichvili, like any of our [Georgian] citizens, of course, has the constitutional right to express her opinion on any issue”, he added, calling on the media “not to repeat” anyone’s expressions that have been insulting to the nation.