Georgian PM says Helsinki Commission hearing aims to obstruct Georgia-US relations

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday criticised a scheduled Helsinki Commission hearing involving speakers Laura Thornton and Joe Wilson, saying that featuring a person who previously insulted Donald Trump will not contribute to the restoration of Georgian-American relations.

In his remarks, Kobakhidze emphasised that the purpose of the hearing was precisely to hinder the restoration of Georgian-American relations.

“It is obvious that this does not serve positive goals. We see that a specific individual who has insulted Donald Trump has been summoned to the Helsinki Commission. Such a discussion cannot contribute to restoring Georgian-US relations. I believe the aim is precisely to obstruct the restoration of Georgian-American relations”, he said.

Laura Thornton, who has referred to Donald Trump as a sexual abuser, will be one of the speakers at the Helsinki Commission on January 28, where a report on Georgia is scheduled under the title “The Growing Suppression of Dissent by the Georgian Dream”.

Thornton is the Director of Global Democracy Programs at the McCain Institute and previously headed the NDI office in Georgia.