Georgia “eager” to be under NATO’s protective umbrella, but has to act amid its absence - ruling party MP

Irakli Chikovani, an MP for the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday told the Parliament the country was “eager” to be under the collective security umbrella of NATO, but the Government had to implement its policies amid its absence. 

Yes, NATO is a collective security organisation, and yes, we would very much like to be under this umbrella, but unfortunately we are not, and that complicates our positions”, said the MP. 

The comment comes on the backdrop of Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Government officials pointing to the absence of “any security umbrellas” for the country in statements backing policies in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

For their part, several opposition groups have slammed the authorities for their refusal to impose individual sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, and acceptance of Moscow’s decision earlier this year to resume direct flights with Georgia and lift visa free travel for Georgian nationals.