Georgian Parliament Speaker: EU paid more to Russia than it sent in aid to Ukraine
Politics
Shalva Papuashvili
Photo: Parliament of Georgia
Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday accused the European Union of hypocrisy, claiming the bloc has paid more to Russia since the start of the war than it has provided in aid to Ukraine.
In his remarks, Papuashvili noted that whenever ambassadors from the United Kingdom, the European Union, or other countries speak with Georgian officials, they should be confronted with figures showing that Europe has transferred more funds to Russia during the war than to Ukraine.
He added that both the British ambassador and the EU ambassador openly urge Georgia to impose sanctions on Russia and, in his words, “follow Europe into an economic abyss”.
“These actions are driven by the desperate situation in which Europe has placed itself. For almost a year now, the US administration has not been spending money on this war, and the entire war in Ukraine has been heaped upon Europe's shoulders. The financial burden is theirs; everything is theirs to pay. They are buying weapons, taking out loans, and harming their own populations. It is from this context that their other decisions follow”, the speaker said.
“The British Ambassador persists; he goes from office to office, saying not to buy fuel. When asked, ‘How?’ - it is a free market; business goes where it is cheap and of high quality. ‘So we should impose sanctions then, right?’ - ‘No, don't impose them, just tell the businesses [not to buy]’, he says. This person is talking absolute nonsense”, Papuashvili continued.
He reiterated that Georgia was being encouraged to impose sanctions on Russia in ways that would damage its own economy. Papuashvili claimed that the EU ambassador had acknowledged that the EU’s economy has suffered as a result of sanctions against Russia, while Georgia’s economy has continued to grow.
“It is disgraceful for the European Union to urge Georgia to impose sanctions, considering the unique challenges our country faces regarding occupation”, Papuashvili concluded.
