Ruling party head: reproaching Gov’t for “protecting country’s interests” “unfair”

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.

Kobakhidze drew parallels with decisions by authorities of the United States and the European Union on maintaining trade with Russia in some areas following the breaking out of the conflict, and ongoing transfers of “one billion euros per day” by the latter to Russia.

In fact, absolutely all subjects - the United States, the European Union, EU countries, Japan, South Korea - try their best to protect their national interests and not harm their own citizens. But when we do it in Georgia, the [domestic] opposition pressures us about this”, the GD official said. 

“There are very important areas where the United States has not stopped trade with Russia. The same applies to the member states of the European Union, where the volume of funds has increased”, the party Chair pointed out.

[EU] themselves said they were transferring one billion euros per day [to Russia] and thus directly financing the war. Why? Because, in the end, protecting the interests of their own citizens turned out to be a priority for them”, Kobakhidze noted. 

The party official concluded by saying the Georgian authorities were “protecting the interests of our people, our country and will continue to do so”.