Georgian parliamentary majority leader Irakli Kirtskhalia: Do we want a Europe that considers legislation against LGBT propaganda anti-European?

“Do any of us want to live in a society where we are told that passing a law against LGBT propaganda is somehow anti-European? Tell me, does anyone want integration with such a Europe? I certainly do not,” Georgian parliamentary majority leader Irakli Kirtskhalia said during an appearance on the television programme Open Air.

Kirtskhalia said that Georgian Dream voters had already delivered their response to what he described as pressure and blackmail from abroad.

“Do we want a society where adopting legislation against LGBT propaganda is labelled anti-European? Tell me, does anyone want to integrate with such a Europe? I do not. I have three children, and I do not want any of them growing up in a country where a man can walk into a public service hall and legally become a woman. I do not want that, and neither do the 1.12 million people who voted for us,” Kirtskhalia said.

“Do you want a Europe that tells you its future is built on a lack of transparency? Do you want a European future where you are expected to blindly obey every instruction you are given? Do you want to join a union where European bureaucrats tell candidate countries that once they join, they will have no right to speak for themselves? Why should we want to become part of a union that expects us to adopt a subservient position?” he added.

Despite his criticism, Kirtskhalia said Georgian Dream remained willing to reset relations with its European partners, provided that cooperation was based on equality and mutual respect.

“We have always said, we continue to say, and we will continue to say that, despite the attacks, we are ready to make a fresh start and begin everything from a clean slate but only on an equal footing and with due consideration for our national interests,” Kirtskhalia said.