“Dancing to Russian tune” - expression - is insult to “self-respecting, ancient”, Georgian nation - PM
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. Photo via Government Administration
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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.
The European Union has been still trading with Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine, gaining up to $300 billion revenue for the country’s budget, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Thursday while commenting on EU’s criticism over Georgia’s trade, economic and flight ties with Russia.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday maintained no flights involving aircraft under international sanctions for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would be allowed in Georgia, following the Russian Government’s decision on Wednesday to lift its ban on flights with Georgia.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Wednesday called on the Georgian Government to convene a Security Council meeting and discuss imposing a visa requirement for Russian citizens, after the Russian President on Wednesday announced his Government was revoking visas for Georgian nationals.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, on Wednesday, responded to the Russian Government lifting its ban on flights with Georgia and visa requirements for citizens of the country by saying it was a “sole decision” of official Moscow and the Georgian side “could not have any influence” on it.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gariabshvili, on Thursday, said in the turmoil stirred by the “irresponsible neo-fascists and radicals”, the challenges facing the world were forgotten.