Georgian Parliament official criticises EU for lecturing Georgia while buying Russian energy

Levan Makhashvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Committee on European Integration, on Wednesday criticised the European Union for continuing to purchase Russian energy resources, questioning the moral grounds on which Brussels lectures the Georgian Government.

Makhashvili was responding to the EU’s continued purchases of Russian energy resources.

“They reprimanded other countries, including Georgia, when those countries were trying to ensure their own survival and protect their populations. Over the past four years, they have paid Russia three times more in oil revenues alone than the amount of Ukraine’s budget. So it is simply incomprehensible on what moral grounds they should lecture the Georgian Government”, Makhashvili said.

On October 12, US President Donald Trump said the European Union had paid Russia $250 billion for energy resources, accusing the “fake news” media of refusing to cover the issue. He added that he had made the right decision for the American people, emphasizing that America always comes first.

Last week, Trump also said he had reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a telephone conversation under which Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel fuel to the US and global markets, an additional 500,000 tons in November, and a further 1 million tons thereafter.