Georgian PM warns against “futile campaigns” as US Congressman threatens Georgia’s ruling party

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday warned “futile campaigns” would “not have any impact on the Georgian public”, in response to a statement by the US Congressman Joe Wilson who on Thursday said that if Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and Honorary Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, went “through with his plan to destroy Georgian democracy, he should expect a response like he’s never imagined”.

In his response, Kobakhidze said “when a particular politician does not speak the truth, their statements are no longer relevant to the public”.

We often see when intense statements are made by this or that official, then signs of specific financial interest appear. I do not know what we are dealing with in this case, at least I would not pay much attention to it”, he said.

“The main thing is that the public has learned everything. The European Parliament adopted five resolutions [on Georgia], but even these resolutions failed to influence [our] public, because what matters most to the public is what is true”, the PM said.

“A specific Republican politician was activated so that someone could create a perception that problems [for the Georgian Government] will continue under Trump. We expect something different from the incoming administration”, he added.

We offer the new administration to start a strategic partnership from a clean slate, to qualitatively reboot to enhance those relations that are not in a healthy state today. We hope that there will be reciprocal steps from the US administration - this is in the interests of both countries, both Georgia and the US”, he concluded.

Earlier today Kobakhidze claimed if the United States was “deoligarchised” and “cleansed of informal influences and the deep state” by the Trump administration, his Government’s relations with the US and the European Union would “go in a very good direction”.