Georgia’s ruling party official says Europe’s current direction makes sovereignty debate irrelevant

Irakli Kirtskhalia, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party’s parliamentary faction, on Wednesday commented on the results of Iceland’s referendum on European Union membership, saying that membership in any union generally entails a certain degree of compromise on sovereignty, as international treaties require states to take numerous obligations and considerations into account.

Speaking to Imedi TV, Kirtskhalia argued that, given the current direction of Europe, discussions about sovereignty had become meaningless, claiming that Brussels was increasingly operating according to “the best Soviet methods”.

“For Marta Kos, Kaja Kallas and today’s Brussels, democracy means the opposite - the rule of a minority over the majority - and no one will accept that”, he said.

Kirtskhalia also responded to a question regarding remarks by the European Union’s representative in Geneva, who said that certain laws in Georgia needed to be amended.

“They probably handed him this statement. He likely had no idea which country he was talking about. This also points to the tired narratives and outdated bureaucracy that, unfortunately, are widespread today”, he concluded.