Georgian Parliament Vice Speaker dismisses Maia Sandu’s criticism, citing her support for radical protests

Gia Volski, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party and the First Vice Speaker of the Parliament, on Tuesday criticised a statement made by Moldovan President Maia Sandu, saying that her remarks about Georgia were unsurprising given her past political positions.

Volski commented on Maia Sandu’s address at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), where she spoke about Georgia in the context of Russia’s alleged hybrid influence.

In his remarks, Volski argued that no positive statements should be expected from a political figure who, in his words, questioned the existence of her own country and promoted the idea of Moldova joining Romania.

“She dissolved her own country, said that this country does not exist and that it should join Romania. What happens does not matter. When her attitude toward her own country is like this, of course, you should not expect her to say anything positive”, he said.

“We should not expect any other statement from a person who supported the development of a revolutionary process on October 4”, Volski continued.

The official further criticised Moldova’s internal situation, describing it as the most difficult among EU candidate countries.

“The second issue is that it is the country in the most difficult situation among the candidate states. The level of poverty that exists in Moldova does not even create the impression that its position or any political and economic situation will ever be improved. And yet such an insolent statement is being made about us”, he concluded.

In her address to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Moldovan President Maia Sandu spoke about Russia’s hybrid operations and claimed that Moscow had brought Georgia back into its orbit by exploiting fears of war.