Parliament official says former Congressman Kinzinger's statement on Georgian Dream party - "misinformation"

Archil Talakvadze, the Georgian Parliament Vice Speaker on Wednesday criticised the former United States Congressman Adam Kinzinger’s statement on the alleged friendly relationship of the ruling Georgian Dream party with Russia, calling it “groundless” and based on information by “one particular biassed media”.

Talakvadze stressed the importance of responding to such misinformation and “unsubstantiated” accusations spread against Georgia and guarding the reputation and interests of the country and its people, while responding to Kinzinger’s tweet, in which he wrote it was “sad” that Georgian Dream party was not “even” hiding its “love for Russia anymore”. 

The Georgian official said he “expected” Kinzinger, the former Co-chair of the Friends of Georgia Group in the US Congress, to make an “appropriate” analysis before spreading misinformation, as his country’s [US] Government had officially announced Georgia’s full compliance with the international sanctions imposed by the international community against Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine. Georgia has never circumvented the sanctions and will not bypass them in the future too, Talakvadze added.

• Parliament Vice Speaker: Georgia will “never” become place for circumvention of Russia sanctions

The Georgian Dream party Chair Irakli Kobakhidze’s political activities, including the 2017 constitutional reform, “directly show” that he is “truly” a pro-Western politician, Talakvadze also noted, adding the criticism towards him was “unfounded”.