Georgian PM explains reasons for not meeting visiting Bundestag delegation

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday explained reasons behind his decision not to meet with a visiting German Bundestag delegation earlier during the day by saying a member of the German legislative body had recently participated in a demonstration organised by the domestic “radical” opposition and was “involved in a revolutionary attempt” in the country.

The PM referred to Michael Roth, the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the German Bundestag, who on May 13 joined protesters at the rally outside the Parliament, ahead of the legislative body’s vote on the controversial law on transparency of foreign influence.

I do not think it is appropriate for me to meet with these MPs considering various factors, including the act that one of their colleagues committed a few months ago”, Kobakhidze said.

The Government head stressed “such acts” were “unacceptable”, and further pointed out that “meetings on such a backdrop are unacceptable for us”.

“[O]ne of our team members will meet with the Bundestag delegation in order to share what we have to say, but it remains to be seen how effective this will be”, he concluded.

Earlier today, Nikoloz Samkharadze, the Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Georgian Parliament, met with the visiting delegation.