Parliament official says “impossible” to be friend of Georgia while pushing for escalation with Russia

Nikoloz Samkharadze, the Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Tuesday criticised efforts to pressure Georgia into escalating tensions with Russia, stating that no true friend of Georgia would advocate such an approach.

In his remarks, Samkharadze noted that various actors, including academics and institutions, both publicly and privately promoted the idea that Georgia should take a confrontational stance against Russia.

“Not only behind closed doors, but I believe representatives of academic circles and these institutions were openly discussing in public spaces that Georgia should escalate tensions with Russia. Therefore, it is good that this is gradually coming to light because back then, we were under immense pressure. I can openly say it was from the ill-wishers of our country”, the Parliament official said.

He emphasised that such pressure was detrimental to Georgia’s national interests and could have endangered its statehood.

“It is unacceptable to claim to be a friend of Georgia while simultaneously pushing for escalation with the Russian Federation, which is an occupying power, a nuclear state. Such a conflict could jeopardise Georgia’s very statehood. It is good that this truth has come to light and our society knows what was happening then, in the spring of 2022 and also in the subsequent period”, Samkharadze concluded.