Georgian PM highlights sharp contrast with previous government on occupation issue

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday said that his government maintains a principled approach to the issue of Russia’s occupation of Georgian territories and argued that the effectiveness of any policy should be measured by its results.

Speaking during his annual address to Parliament, Kobakhidze contrasted the current government’s approach toward Russia with that of the previous administration, saying the consequences of what he described as an “impractical policy” had been Russia’s military intervention in Georgia, the expansion of its territorial presence, and increased economic influence.

“As for my visits to the occupation line, journalists have recently asked me this question several times, and I confirmed that during this period I have visited the occupation line multiple times without cameras. Regarding the so-called annexation of South Ossetia, you are somehow discussing this topic with great enthusiasm. I can tell you what our approach and policy are. We have a very principled approach to the issue of occupation, and in general, government policy is measured by results. If we compare it to the previous government, we can clearly see what the results were then and what they are now, including in relation to Russia and the outcomes of policy there - the consequences of an unpragmatic policy”, he said.

“The results were Russia’s intervention in Georgia, the expansion of its territorial presence in our country, and also its economic intervention. These are the results that can be easily measured”, Kobakhidze continued.

He further said that under the current government, there has been no further expansion of territorial presence by occupying forces.

“Under our government, we have completely different results: no expansion of territorial presence at all”, he stressed.

The Prime Minister further highlighted that the only significant exception was the Chorchana incident, which he described as a serious and widely discussed case.

“In all other cases, we firmly defended our interests to the end, and the result is that Georgia’s national interests are fully protected. I don’t even know what to say about this - it does not even deserve comment. It is the only case where the occupation forces advanced kilometres beyond the old so-called border into our territory, and this is being called the stopping of borderization. This is truly shameful, something a person will never be able to wash away from their biography. It is a real stain - although there are so many stains that Chorchana is hardly even the worst of them, I can say that with confidence”, he noted.

Kobakhidze also referred to international dimensions of Georgia’s policy, mentioning actions taken regarding Syria and Venezuela, while stating that certain details could not be discussed publicly.

“As for Syria and Venezuela, we have taken specific measures, but it is not appropriate to speak publicly about this, especially in your presence. That is all I can say”, he concluded.