Georgian Parliament official: Russophobia does not serve de-occupation or restoration of territorial integrity

Irakli Kadagishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Regional Policy and Self-government Committee, on Saturday said that Russophobia in no way serves the goal of de-occupation or the prospects of restoring Georgia’s territorial integrity, and instead creates economic problems and raises the risk of escalation with Russia.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Kadagishvili addressed the issue of Russophobia, distinguishing between legitimate rejection of aggression and occupation and the deliberate stirring of phobias that harm national interests.

“Such phobias in no way serve either the goal of de-occupation or the prospects of restoring Georgia’s territorial integrity”, he said.

The official argued that any normally thinking person understands such phobias were unacceptable.

“A normally thinking person, whether a politician or an ordinary citizen, cannot fail to understand that this is completely unacceptable and impermissible. Those who commission and carry out such actions understand very well what they are doing, but the message of the state and the government is directed precisely at our ordinary citizens”, Kadagishvili noted.

“Of course, aggression and occupation are absolutely unacceptable to everyone. There is no point in asking such a banal question. But we must clearly understand that forces interested in confrontation often create such confrontational situations by creating an emotional environment, in many cases by stirring up phobias”, he concluded.