UNM’s Tsiskarishvili says ruling Georgian Dream driven by ‘fear’ in domestic, foreign policy

Petre Tsiskarishvili, secretary general of the United National Movement (UNM), has claimed that the ruling Georgian Dream party is motivated by fear in both domestic and geopolitical decision-making.

Tsiskarishvili said the authorities were increasingly concerned about the growing strength of the West, including Europe and Ukraine, both politically and militarily, in confronting Russia.

“They are entirely guided by fears — in geopolitics and in domestic politics. Fear is the only thing driving them,” Tsiskarishvili said.

According to the opposition politician, the Georgian Government is attempting to preserve communication channels with Europe and Ukraine because it fears the potential collapse of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his administration.

“If Putin and his rule collapse and come to an end, then who will remain our partner and who will we speak to?” Tsiskarishvili said, describing what he claimed was the ruling party’s line of thinking.

He argued that this was the reason the Government did not want “the last small pedestrian bridge” with Europe and Ukraine to be destroyed and was seeking to maintain dialogue with both sides.