Civil Idea Head criticizes Government’s indifference towards potential sanctions

Tina Khidasheli, Chair of the Civil Idea organization, has criticized the Georgian government’s response to US-announced potential sanctions, arguing that their recent statements demonstrate a disregard for state sovereignty.

Kidasheli stressed that both the Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, who completed his doctorate in Germany, and the Speaker of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili are fully aware that sanctions on political officials effectively close the door to negotiations with those individuals.

“If they truly cared about state sovereignty, they would not be making these statements. The Prime Minister and the Speaker of Parliament, who completed his doctorate in Germany, know very well that sanctions against political figures mean that these individuals will no longer be welcome at the negotiating table. As a result, no one will sit down with them to discuss bilateral cooperation or the progress and development that such cooperation brings. But this does not seem to concern them,” Khidasheli stated.

Her remarks come after the statement of US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, that Secretary of State Antony Blinken had initiated a review of the US-Georgia relations, leading to visa restrictions on dozens of Georgian officials and the suspension of $95 million in aid. He suggested that additional measures could follow.