Civil Georgia
April 8, 2022

Lithuania MPs Slam Georgian Govt Over Ukraine Rhetoric, Russia, Stalin
Seimas Foreign Committee Nevertheless Backs Georgia’s EU, NATO Aspirations

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Lithuanian Seimas has a adopted a statement on Georgia, that while firmly backing Georgia’s EU and NATO aspirations, criticizes the ruling Georgian Dream party and the government over Ukraine rhetoric and other issues.

The statement, dated April 6, deplores the current intergovernmental relations between Georgia and Ukraine, and the statements by Georgia’s ruling party leaders “to undermine the Ukrainian leadership and Ukraine’s heroic fight for European freedoms and values.”

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Taking note of the deep political polarization in Georgia, the document said, “attacks on the media and imprisonment of political opponents function to reinforce Russia’s malign influence over the Georgian society.”

Further, the Lithuanian parliamentary committee calls on the Georgian leadership to facilitate the transfer of the imprisoned ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili, who has “serious health issues, to a European state for urgent treatment.”

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The document invites NATO countries and EU Member States to support the drafting of an Action Plan for Georgia’s NATO accession and granting the status of an EU candidate country to Georgia.

“Given Georgia joins the EU’s common foreign and security policy statements as well as the policies and sanctions of NATO countries and EU Member States targeted against the autocratic regimes in Belarus and Russia,” it adds.

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According to the document, Russia’s illegal actions in the occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Regions are replicated in the Ukrainian Donetsk and Luhansk Regions, and the Crimea.

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Agenda.ge
April 8, 2022

Parliament Speaker: Georgia to fulfill “human and historical duty” in supporting Ukraine despite “unfair and unfounded” allegations

Supporting Ukraine is a human and historical duty of the Georgian Government and the latter is intent on fulfilling it despite the “unfair and unfounded allegations” heard from Ukrainian authorities, Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, said on Friday.

Papuashvili was commenting on an invitation of the Ukrainian authorities for him to visit the city of Bucha to observe the facts of the atrocities committed by Russian troops before they withdrew from the location.

The Georgian official declined the visit by saying it would be “inappropriate” on the backdrop of what he called “demands [by Ukrainian officials] for opening a second front [against Russia] in Georgia”, “diplomatic demonstrations” by Ukrainian representatives, and “baseless accusations” of products being sanctioned through Georgian territory by Russia to avoid sanctions.