Croatian President: Georgia is being “arm-twisted”, blackmailed

Zoran Milanović, the President of Croatia, on Thursday said Georgia was being unfairly pressured and accused of acting in Moscow’s interests, calling the situation “moral blackmail”.

In his remarks during a joint briefing following his meeting with Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili, Milanović noted that the European Union was blackmailing Tbilisi, using coercion and pressure.

He further highlighted Georgia’s economic achievements.

“By all measures, Georgia is developing successfully and has a high growth rate. I agree that the growth rate is the most important indicator, showing the development of economic activity and trade. In this regard, Georgia is successful. [...] We should support this - not unconditionally, because nothing is unconditional here. We must support the facts”, the Croatian President said.

“The country is being put up against barriers, placed in moral dilemmas, and accused of being a Moscow agent. This is moral blackmail. They are blackmailing this country; hands are being twisted, there is pressure and blackmail. I came to Georgia to say this”, he concluded.