Georgia’s ruling party official dismisses visa liberalisation pressure as “the last bullet” of blackmail

Irakli Kirtskhalia, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party faction in the legislative body, on Wednesday commented on blackmail linked to visa liberalisation with the EU, saying that this was a final mechanism of blackmail - the last bullet, further pointing out that “any bullet fired in such a dirty game will not reach its addressee”.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Kirtskhalia noted that neither the authorities nor the Georgian public were afraid of such pressure.

“We have proven this, and the majority of the Georgian people have proven it time and again. Our political team has devoted itself to the country. Any politician who has made the decision to stand where we stand and carry out the mandate given by our society understands what kind of blackmail may be directed personally at us and our family members - and that concerns us least”, he said.

The official emphasised that the Government’s priority was the country’s stability, economic progress, and development, the benefits of which should be felt by every citizen.

“We are interested first and foremost in our country - its peace and development. We have clearly chosen the path of peace, and for this we are told that we should be punished”, he concluded.