Georgian PM accuses external actors of fueling hatred in Georgia

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Sunday claimed that the spread of hatred in Georgia was the result of a deliberate process driven from outside the country and described it as an artificially imposed phenomenon that should be confronted.

Speaking to journalists, Kobakhidze said his government would continue to pursue policies it believes are in the interests of society, regardless of criticism from US Congressman Joe Wilson, whom he referred to as “another agent of the deep state”.

“I would like to remind everyone that, in general, the spread of hatred in our country is the result of a deliberate process. All of this was being done from outside. It is an artificially imposed phenomenon for our country and our people. Hatred and aggression on this scale are not natural to Georgia, and this is something we must fight against”, Kobakhidze said.

The Prime Minister also alleged that the previous US administration was directly involved in fostering divisions and hostility in Georgia.

“I would also like to remind Mr. Joe Wilson that the previous US administration was directly and actively involved in artificially fueling hatred in Georgia. Among other things, under the previous administration, the US Embassy and the Ambassador personally were involved in artificially encouraging hatred in Georgia. Of course, we will oppose this”, he said.

Kobakhidze added that his government’s priority was to reduce polarisation and combat hatred, which he described as an obstacle to the country’s development.

“Therefore, we are not interested in what another agent of the deep state, Mr. Joe Wilson, has to say. We will do what our society needs. Our society and our country do not need hatred. On the contrary, we must do everything possible to defeat hatred in Georgia. Hatred is, of course, an obstacle to development, and we will do everything necessary to address it”, the Prime Minister concluded.