Parliament Speaker: Gov’t “not going to pay price with lives of Georgian citizens” in confronting Russia with sanctions
In his remarks, Papuashvili claimed a group of members of the European Parliament was “still demanding” from the Georgian Government to impose sanctions on Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
Tweet 
Share
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said the Georgian Government was “not going to pay the price with the lives of Georgian citizens” in confronting Russia with sanctions amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
In his remarks, Papuashvili claimed a group of members of the European Parliament was “still demanding” from the Georgian Government to impose sanctions on Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine.
[W]hen I had a conversation with some [MEPs] and talked about the risks of imposing bilateral sanctions on Russia, which is a risk of entering into a military conflict and economic collapse, the answer from some people was: ‘well, we all pay our price’. Sorry, but we are not going to pay the price with the lives of our citizens”, he said.
The chief Georgian legislator also alleged the same group of MEPs had demanded release of the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili.
“Exactly the same group told us that if Saakashvili was not released, the country would not receive the EU membership candidate status”, he noted.
The legislator added Saakashvili remained in prison “despite the ultimatum” while the country had secured the EU candidacy.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday claimed resolutions of the European Parliament had “completely lost their value” for the country’s public by “declaring” wanted former official David Kezerashvili, the Defence Minister in the United National Movement Government, as a “refugee”.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday rejected claims that the controversial bill on transparency of foreign influence would pose a threat to the country’s European integration by saying its adoption was a “necessary condition to move forward” on the country’s EU path.
The ruling Georgian Dream party on Monday announced a public rally would be held outside the Parliament in Tbilisi next Monday “to say yes to transparency”, amid ongoing protests against the reintroduced bill on the transparency of foreign influence.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday claimed the domestic public was being targeted with an “assault of disinformation” amid a backlash by domestic opposition, civil sector and diplomatic representations in the country against the controversial bill on transparency of foreign influence.