According to the First Vice-Speaker of the Parliament, Gia Volski, the opposition’s criticism of the Georgian parliamentary delegation’s visit to the United States is caused by political hysteria.

Volski commented on the meetings held by the Georgian parliamentary delegation in Washington, D.C., including contacts at the White House and the United States Department of State.

According to him, such meetings create important preconditions for the development of relations between the two countries.

“The opposition knows that high-level meetings of the parliamentary delegation in the United States, at the White House and the State Department, not only do not mean nothing, but on the contrary create the prerequisites for the development of relations between the two countries. This is what causes their hysteria,” Volski said.

He added that it is alarming that some political actors in Georgia oppose steps that could strengthen the country’s international relations.

“It is disturbing and shocking that there are people in Georgia who believe the country should not rejoice until Rasa Juknevičienė and Marta Kos face certain problems. We must look at all of this calmly and rationally. They have their own interests. Their interest is to somehow diversify Russia’s aggression, including in the direction of Georgia. Our interest is to prevent this, and this clash of interests is what is causing the hysteria.

A healthy political force prevails in a confrontation of interests. We must view criticism of this visit and of any other action that does not bring dividends to Georgia as a traitorous act by people who lack a sense of homeland,” Volski stated.

Georgia’s parliamentary delegation is currently on a visit to Washington, DC. The delegation comprises members of the parliamentary majority: Nikoloz Samkharadze, Mariam Lashkhi, and Lika Shartava.

As part of the visit, Nikoloz Samkharadze met with Brendan Hanrahan at the U.S. Department of State, where, as Samkharadze stated, he confirmed Georgia’s readiness to begin work on a new strategic partnership agreement.

Samkharadze also held a meeting with Andrew Baker, Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director of the National Security Council. According to Samkharadze, the primary focus of the meeting was on repairing and strengthening Georgian-American relations, as well as restoring the strategic partnership between the two countries.