Georgian Parliament official: xenophobic statements aimed at undermining Georgia’s stability

Gia Volski, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party and the First Vice Speaker of the Parliament, on Saturday said that xenophobic statements were primarily intended to undermine Georgia’s stability and to make the existing occupation regime more aggressive, with tourism and the economy now the main targets.

Commenting on recent xenophobic rhetoric, Volski linked such statements to broader efforts by extremist groups to damage the country’s image as a stable and business-friendly destination.

The official argued that when Georgia is presented internationally as a stable country suitable for business and tourism, it prompts retaliatory actions from extremist groups.

“For the world, when it is said that Georgia is a stable country, a country that is comfortable for business, and a country conducive to the development of the tourism industry, this naturally creates the basis for planning retaliatory actions by extremist groups. This is the main objective. Of course, for the tourism industry, the economy in general, cooperation with Georgia in general, and cooperation with businesses, it does not matter what political content lies behind this xenophobia”, he said.

“First, what matters is how stable the country is, and of course, they want to strike primarily in this direction; and second, of course, they want the existing occupation regime to become more aggressive”, Volski concluded.