The Gakharia for Georgia party has issued a statement regarding remarks made by Moldovan President Maia Sandu at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

While the party expressed its respect for President Sandu, it emphasized that her claim of Georgia returning to Russia’s orbit undermines the historic choice of the Georgian people.

“We wish to respond to President Maia Sandu’s statement regarding Georgia. While we respect President Sandu, Georgia is currently governed by a regime whose harmful and incompetent foreign policy has hindered our European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

Portraying Georgia’s return to Russia’s orbit as a fact undermines the historic choice of the Georgian people and the strong European orientation of the majority of our society. It also weakens the efforts of our allies and partner nations to help Georgia fully break free from Russian influence and achieve full integration into the European family,” the statement reads.

The party further noted the importance of continued support from Georgia’s closest historical partners.

“It is crucial that our allies stand with Georgian society, which continues to defend its European future with remarkable resilience in these difficult times. Despite the authoritarian nature of the Georgian Dream government, we are confident that Georgian society, together with our partners, will defend the national interests of our country and our common goals,” the statement concludes.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu, speaking at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, stated that “Russia pulled Georgia back into its orbit by weaponising the fear of war, signalling that the wrong electoral choice would come at the cost of peace.”