Georgia’s ruling party MP links strained EU ties to war-related demands

Irakli Cheishvili, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Friday said relations between Georgia and the European Union deteriorated following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, which he claimed was accompanied by calls for Georgia to open a “second front” and subsequent attempts to overthrow the Government.

Speaking to Imedi TV, Cheishvili said the Georgian Government had expressed its readiness to reset relations with the EU and that the next move depended on Brussels.

“We have repeatedly stated that we are unilaterally maintaining a position of friendship. If they take the initiative, we are ready to engage in dialogue at any time. We are prepared to move closer to the European Union, just as we were several years ago. However, the need for the EU to change its rhetoric toward Georgia is nothing new”, Cheishvili said.

“We had normal relations with the European Union until the Russia-Ukraine war broke out and demands were made for us to open a second front, join sanctions, and take similar measures. Tensions emerged after that. Subsequently, there were attempts to stage coups and revolutions - efforts to overthrow the country's Government through illegal means. It was then that we adopted a number of laws to safeguard our national security. What are they demanding now? They speak to us about changing our rhetoric, even though we enacted laws to protect our national security, while, in the current environment, EU countries are funding the activities of radical groups by circumventing our legislation, demonstrating a lack of respect for our sovereignty and laws. And yet they continue to tell us that we should change our rhetoric. Not a single step has been taken on their part toward normalising relations”, he added.