Pro-Russian rhetoric in Georgia linked with one man’s “obsessive ideas” – political analyst Batiashvil

Political analyst Zurab Batiashvili told Front News on Thursday that pro-Russian statements by former MPs of the ruling party,” who are affiliated with the party”, as well as the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Irakli Kobakhidze’s “nonsense wording” would not change even after Ukraine defeats Russia, as “they are connected with one man’s “obsessive ideas” [referring to the founder of GD, Bidzina Ivanishvii]. 

“They are making the anti-western statements more actively on a daily basis, despite Ukraine’s success in the war. Thus, the rhetoric is unlikely to be related to the war or its fate”, said the analyst. 

Three MPs, who said they had “no controversies” with the GD, left the party in June in a bid to “tell the public the truth”, and have been making anti-western statements since then, with nine former MPs of the ruling party already united in their movement named Popular Force. 

Both the former MPs and the GD top figures expressed readiness to cooperate if the GD required their support in parliament, as after the quitting of the nine MPs, the ruling party has no majority in the state legislature.