Georgian PM tells Ukrainian politicians to go mind their own business

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
12 Mar 2023 23:45
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Georgia's Prime Minister had a few words to say to Ukrainian politicians who allegedly sympathized with anti-government protesters.

A man waves a Georgian national flag in front of a burning barricade as other protesters stand behind not far from the Georgian parliament building in Tbilisi, Georgia, Thursday, March 9, 2023 (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)

Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakly Garibashvili slammed Ukrainian politicians in an interview on Sunday, saying their support for anti-government protesters is indicative of their meddling in Georgia's domestic affairs and that they should "better take care of themselves and their country."

Speaking about Zelensky's Wednesday address to Georgian protesters, thanking them for raising Ukrainian flags during their rallies and protesting the bill on 'Foreign agents', Garibashvili told the Imedi television channel: "When a man who is in a state war finds time to react to the destructive action staged by several thousand people here, it is a direct evidence that he is involved, he is motivated to see something to happening here."

"[Vitaly] Klitschko, [Mark] Feigin, some other people, Ukrainian politicians came out, [David] Arakhamiya and pitiful losers came out to say that changes are needed, some scenarios, a coup. It is an open interference [into Georgia’s domestic affairs]," he added, noting that Kiev authorities "should better take care of themselves and their country".

"Look at what is happening in Ukraine: 20% of its territory has already been occupied. They say that Ukraine has suffered losses ranging from 800 billion to one trillion dollars," he further added.

"Considering that Ukraine's GDP was 200 billion, and a loss already amounted to at least 800 billion... What will put this country on its feet? 20 million Ukrainian citizens have emigrated, and have been forced to leave their homes," Garibashvili pointed out, adding that "this is a tragedy, and a terrible thing is happening in Ukraine. Those who are aware of this situation are trying to bring destabilization and war to our country, to our well-ordered country."

The PM noted that his country will be able to take care of its own affairs. He pointed out that Ukrainian politicians blamed Georgia for not "being involved" in the Ukraine war.

On Wednesday, Zelensky thanked protesters for raising the Ukrainian flag and wished them success on their path toward integrating the European Union, which Georgia applied to join in March 2022.

🇬🇪 Prime-Minister Irakli Garibashvili: "European Parliament should take care of itself. Why are they dictating us what to do?! Their desire was and is to drag Georgia into the war against Russia" pic.twitter.com/tpItLEczuq
— Giorgi Revishvili (@revishvilig) March 12, 2023

What were the protests about?

In a first reading vote on Tuesday, the Georgian parliament approved a law on the transparency of foreign influence 76 to 13. The statute calls for compiling a list of people and organizations that receive funding from overseas.

This sparked widespread protests and concerns among the opposition, who are concerned that it will allow the government to suppress the work of NGOs and activists in the country.

Protesters were seen outside waving EU flags, and US and Ukraine flags were also seen among the group of protesters.

US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said on Wednesday that the bill was "Kremlin-inspired".

Meanwhile, the government maintained that this is intended to limit foreign meddling in Georgian politics.

Following two days of violent protests, the ruling Georgian Dream party announced its decision to withdraw the bill from the Parliament.

Despite meeting their demands on the withdrawal of the bill, protesters reaffirmed their resolve to continue fighting for what they described as Georgia's European identity.