Georgian PM says potential sanctions “no serious matter” for Gov’t, “counterproductive for those who mention them”

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday dismissed claims that said members of the ruling Georgian Dream party had been notified about imposition of visa restrictions on them following the party’s approval of a controversial law on transparency of foreign influence, calling the reports “falsehood” and adding discussing the possible sanctions was “not a serious matter” for the Government.

Whoever makes [such an] announcement will be frivolous and counterproductive. As for the email [notification], this is a common lie. When the topic is not serious, we cannot delve into it”, he said.

The Prime Minister also responded to questions from the media about visa restrictions announced by the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken last month against "those responsible for undermining democracy" in Georgia.

Blinken’s comment was followed by Matthew Miller, the Spokesperson for the US Department of State, saying earlier today the US Government had not yet announced individual sanctions against officials of the executive and legislative branches of the Georgian Government.

• US State Department Spokesperson says sanctions against Georgian officials over transparency “not yet announced”

In his response, Kobakhidze claimed it was the Government’s “duty to react to anti-Georgian actions”.

When specific entities make anti-Georgian statements and take anti-Georgian steps, such as imposing sanctions on Georgian judges without evidence [last year], it is our obligation to respond. These actions should not be perceived as anti-European or anti-American. When anti-Georgian steps are taken and anti-Georgian statements are made, it is simply our duty to react to it and nothing more”, he said.

Kobakhidze also said the Government was “very careful” about relations with partners.

It is fundamentally important for us to have friendship and partnership with the countries that have been standing guard over our territorial integrity for all these years”, he said, adding the ties were based on “shared values” and had a “cooperative nature”.

No other state should be considered superior to Georgia. This is our stance. When foreign agents were in power in Georgia [in reference to the United National Movement party], they did not listen to their partners, but instead took orders from foreign states. The current Government will not accept directives from anyone and will only act in the best interests of the nation”, he said.

We resisted the pressure from 27 ambassadors who demanded the release of [imprisoned former President Mikheil] Saakashvili, which was an unacceptable form of directive. We also dismissed the unjust resolutions adopted by the European Parliament four times in the past few years to demand release of criminals and punishment of Bidzina Ivanishvili [the former Prime Minister and founder of the Georgian Dream party]. Such directives are fundamentally unacceptable to us”, Kobakhidze added.

The Prime Minister alleged the previous Government had “followed such directives because they were foreign agents”, adding the alleged activities had “led to numerous issues, such as human rights abuses, democratic setbacks and territorial losses”.

Kobakhidze said his Government was “open to listening to everyone’s opinions”, including to “critical feedback”.