Georgia hits back at EU, UK criticism: "We’re only defending ourselves"

Georgian authorities are not launching attacks but are instead responding to what they view as unjust behaviour from the European Union and the United Kingdom, according to Kakha Kaladze, the Secretary General of the ruling party, Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia and Mayor of Tbilisi.

Kaladze’s remarks came after the UK Foreign Office summoned Georgia’s acting chargé d’affaires, Giorgi Saganelidze, Caliber.Az reports, citing Georgian media outlets.

During the meeting, British officials conveyed their firm stance regarding what they described as Georgia’s “increasingly harmful trajectory” and issued a strong condemnation of “false accusations and public attacks” made by the Georgian Dream party against the UK and other international allies.

In response, Kaladze emphasised that Georgia is not acting aggressively, but rather is defending itself:
“We are not attacking anyone. How could Georgia possibly fight against Europe, the United Kingdom, or the United States? That’s unthinkable. On the contrary, we are defending ourselves against the injustice coming from the European Union, including the UK,” he stated.

Kaladze also raised concerns over transparency, noting that the British Embassy has yet to reveal which organisations it has funded in Georgia in recent years.

By Tamilla Hasanova