Georgia’s ruling party Sec Gen on Trump’s EU-Russia trade relations: typical double standard

Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday said that US President Donald Trump’s criticism of the European Union over its multibillion-dollar trade with Russia, despite sanctions, once again demonstrated “a typical double standard” from the EU.

In his remarks, Kaladze noted that “no one should expect that representatives from Europe or the United States will come to Georgia to defend its national interests”.

“This is the usual reality. A typical double standard. Everyone acts based on their own interests. Look and compare how much direct trade with Russia there was over the years and what it looks like today. Even though sanctions have been imposed, they still have direct trade, and you can clearly see the turnover. This information is easy to access”, the official said.

“You remember how they criticised us and directly threatened us - adopting resolutions and urging us to join the sanctions, which would have harmed our country, our economy and our people, while they themselves would have benefited from it”, he continued.

Kaladze reiterated that no one from Europe or America would come here to protect and advance Georgian interests.

“Everyone has their own priorities, everyone thinks about their own country, and of course, we Georgians must first and foremost think about our country, our people and the future of this nation”, he concluded.