Parliament Speaker: claims on Government’s covert relations with Russia “part of $1 million propaganda”
Papuashvili stressed the Government was “oriented on the interests of the country” and the work “our public and citizens need”. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday said allegations from a part of the domestic opposition about the Government’s “covert relations” with Russia formed a part of a “$1 million propaganda” effort, following revelations of a United States-based law firm having received a sum close to the figure from the family of the imprisoned former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili for lobbying the US Government to help free the convicted former official.
Papuashvili’s comment followed the disclosure of the law firm Akerman with the US Justice Department, which on February 3 showed it had received $917,177 from Saakashvili’s family for the purpose.
In reference to allegations from some of the domestic opposition forces, the Parliament Speaker stressed “no facts” of violations of the international sanctions on Russia, placed on the country for its invasion of Ukraine, had been established in Georgia despite the countries sharing a border.
As for the so-called covert relations with Russia, this is also a part of the propaganda for which one million dollars have been paid, and they are trying to damage Georgia with this propaganda”, he said, adding “in this case, the media must be careful and mobilised to avoid such propaganda”.
Papuashvili stressed the Government was “oriented on the interests of the country” and the work “our public and citizens need”.
In the international arena, we are absolutely honestly and conscientiously part of the coalition that supports Ukraine and the Ukrainian people”, he pointed out, accusing unspecified “Georgian politicians and the media” of being involved in an effort “against their own homeland”.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said every day that went without Georgia having the European Union membership candidate status was an “injustice” towards the country, in his summary of the work of the legislative body throughout the past year.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday urged domestic opposition parties to “distance themselves from large, radical groups” on the domestic scene to facilitate the formation of a “healthier political environment” in the country.
A disclosure of the law firm Akerman with the United States Justice Department has shown it received $917,177 from the family of the imprisoned former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili for the purpose of lobbying US Government officials to help free the former official.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday said Georgia was ahead of both Ukraine and Moldova in “fundamental questions” related to their alignment with the European Union, in comments on the European Commission's new report on the three countries aspiring for EU membership.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday said reproaching the Georgian authorities for decisions that mimicked steps taken by “all international subjects” in protection of their interests was “unfair”, in comments on the Government’s refusal to impose economic sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday said it was “unfortunate” that resolutions of the European Parliament had become “sources of misinformation”.
Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said statements by some members of the European Parliament about the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili were based on “absurdity and misinformation”.
The Georgian Ministry of Finance on Monday said the claim in an NBC News report on the Georgian territory being used by Russia to circumvent international sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine was an “utter lie and disinformation against the country”.