Georgian Parliament official slams EU report, says sanctions on Russia would push Georgia to the brink

Rati Ionatamishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Human Rights and Civic Integration Committee, on Wednesday criticised a recent EU report on enlargement, arguing that it undermined Georgia’s interests and imposed unfair demands.

In his remarks, Ionatamishvili reacted to the EU’s recommendations, particularly regarding the imposition of strict sanctions on Russia, calling the document inconsistent with European standards and harmful to Georgia.

“It is unacceptable to call a document on European integration something that, in essence, is a document sacrificing Georgia. The discussion is about Georgia imposing strict sanctions on Russia. Isn’t this an attempt to sacrifice Georgia completely?!” he said.

The official noted that the document clearly contradicted European standards and highlighted the desire of Eurocrats for everyone to comply with them without question.

“It is unfortunate that such a report is published. It disregards the Association Agreement and the progress Georgia has made in this direction. Instead, it again discusses imposing sanctions, rejecting the ECHR’s decisions, and attempting to establish new standards on their part. A document of European integration cannot be one that, in content and essence, is a document sacrificing Georgia”, he noted.

“In fact, when on one hand there is talk about us imposing the strictest laws and sanctions on Russia, abandoning the rule of law entirely, and following every decision dictated by Eurocrats, such rhetoric, of course, cannot be shared by us. The standard that today’s Eurocrats hold has already been exposed internationally as a betrayal and a conflict with European values”, he continued.

Ionatamishvili also stated that Kaja Kallas’s statement clearly showed how poor European diplomacy was today.

“Her [Kaja Kallas] statement is perceived as treating certain countries as inferior. They seem to think that if they order these countries to do something, it must be done obediently, without questioning. For example, when it comes to sanctions, that Georgia must impose the strictest sanctions on Russia, there is no discussion of the guarantees that Georgia might receive in this regard, considering that our economy would face serious difficulties. This is an attempt to sacrifice Georgia completely. In other words, they are telling us that Georgia’s fate does not matter to them. They want to use Georgia according to their own political interests”, Ionatamishvili concluded.