Georgian PM claims protest rally leaders “want to see Ukrainisation” of country

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday claimed leaders of ongoing public rallies against the controversial domestic law on transparency of foreign influence were “driven by the [idea of] Ukrainisation” of the country.

Kobakhidze cited one of the leaders of the rallies had as having said “a few days ago that he was envying the Ukrainians”.

“I would say that this is not a mere slip of the tongue. The main goal, the task that drives these people is the Ukrainisation of Georgia - that is, that Georgia shares the fate of Ukraine”, he alleged.

I want to remind everyone once again what it means to share the fate of Ukraine and what is the situation in Ukraine today. Unfortunately, tens of thousands of people have died in Ukraine as a result of this war. A specific statistical indicator is that two thirds of young men aged 19-24 have either left the country or died. We are talking about the destruction of the gene pool of Ukraine. This is something that our opponents envy”, the PM continued.

Kobakhidze also stressed the law would “help the Government ensure long-term peace and tranquillity” in the country.

He also noted his offer to young protesters to select 10 representatives for “public discussions” on the controversial law.

“As you know, I offered the youth to participate in a public discussion in a live broadcast format, but at the same moment the radicals started bullying the youth, and under these conditions none of the groups could take the risk to participate in the public discussion, which is very sad”, Kobakhidze alleged.

The Government head said his offer was “still in force” and added he hoped that “at least one group will break free from the bullying” and participate in the debate.

The Parliament on Tuesday adopted the transparency law, which requires groups “considered to be an organisation pursuing the interests of a foreign power” to be registered in the public registry with the status and publicise their received funding. The legislative piece was supported by 84 MPs in the 150-member lawmaking body, with 30 voting against it.

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Saturday vetoed the law on the backdrop of ongoing public protests and criticism from Georgia’s foreign partner states.