GD’s Machavariani: European bureaucrats should face truth; Georgia borders the Black Sea and is one of key participants in Middle Corridor

“The European integration process is at a halt because we rejected Georgia’s use as a proxy state, as happened in Ukraine, regrettably,” said Levan Machavariani, a member of the Georgian Dream (GD) party.

According to Machavariani, foreign ministers of some European countries hold a different attitude.

“When they officially halted this process, they cited two reasons: one was the Georgian Transparency Law, which they shamefully labelled ‘Russian,’ even though today, those who were made to participate in that charade realize there was nothing Russian about it.

And the other was the law which determines that there are two genders and no more can be; LGBT propaganda among children is banned. Consequently, there are no question marks here. We see differing approaches among the foreign ministers of some member states, and this has been publicly voiced,” he said.

Machavariani believes that EU member states pursue friendly relations with Georgia due to its unique geographical location.

“The significance of the Middle Corridor has increased greatly, and Georgia is a key country. Everyone wants to partner with Georgia, and the European bureaucrats should face the simple truth that Georgia truly borders the Black Sea and is one of the key participants in the Middle Corridor.

European bureaucrats must reconcile with the fact that, despite their heavy-handed interference, they managed neither to organize a revolution in Georgia nor to secure an election victory for the radical opposition, as the Georgian people are the ultimate guarantors of these outcomes,” he said.

Levan Machavariani said that pressure on Georgia had continued since the very first day of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

“Georgia did not agree to have our state used as a proxy country; over the years, we have witnessed numerous instances of interference, rampant disinformation, and unfair treatment, as well as the direct motivation of revolutions and indirect funding, yet this pressure did not succeed. We did not make a single step backwards to give up national interests.

We have proven this through our actions. We are prepared should they intend to ramp up pressure and blackmail again in January. We fear neither blackmail nor sanctions. Nothing will force us to back down from defending the country’s national interests and ensuring peace and stability in Georgia,” he said.