Opposition figure criticizes PM’s participation in Turkmenistan forum with Putin

Giorgi Butikashvili, a member of the Coalition for Change, has criticized Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze for attending the international forum in Turkmenistan, which is dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust, alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Butikashvili said, ‘forums where Putin participates cannot be called peace forums. A terrorist state is taking part in an event called a peace forum - this is the greatest absurdity one could hear today. Kobakhidze is participating in this absurdity because Georgian Dream seeks to entirely close off Western structures to Georgia’s future perspective and promote integration with countries where democracy is not fundamental and human rights are not a foundation. Therefore, it is not surprising that Kobakhidze appeared in the same picture as Putin.’

Butikashvili added that, given Kobakhidze’s position, he represented nothing for Putin and may not even be able to speak with him. ‘The only person with whom the Kremlin communicates is Bidzina Ivanishvili,’ he said.