“We should not follow anybody’s calls blindly but should guide with the country’s interests. Georgia and Georgian people are European. What is good for Georgian people is good for the European future,” said Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili.

The Speaker recalled appeals for ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili’s release and imposition of sanctions that “were not favourable advice for the Georgian people.”

“The same people used to tell us that Mikheil Saakashvili behind bars was a burden. They told us directly or hinted that we had to release Saakashvili and send him overseas for medical treatment since this was a precondition for the EU. This was not a good decision for Georgian society. We did not act so and received the EU candidate country status. The same people called on us openly or behind closed doors to impose sanctions on Russia. This meant a risk of entering into military conflict and guaranteed economic collapse. We did not do so and are an EU candidate country.

We should not just blindly follow such appeals but act in the country’s best interests. Georgia is a European country, and Georgian people are Europeans. Therefore, what is good for the Georgian people is good for the European future,” he said.