Georgian PM warns against hostility with Russia

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has called for Georgia and Russia to avoid allowing political disputes between the two countries to fuel hostility between their peoples.

Speaking at a press conference, Kobakhidze said relations between Georgian and Russian societies should be preserved despite what he described as efforts by external forces to deepen divisions.

“Whatever the plan of the so-called deep state may be, we must not allow political disagreements, past political mistakes, or the plan of the global party of war to open a second front for Georgia against Russia to become the basis for hostility between our peoples,” Kobakhidze said.

He argued that maintaining ties between the two societies and ensuring peaceful coexistence were more important than political circumstances or the interests of what he called “informal oligarchic forces.”

“Maintaining relations between our societies and peaceful coexistence is far more important than any political situation or any specific plan by informal oligarchic forces toward a particular country,” he added.

Kobakhidze also pointed to longstanding social and family ties between the two countries, noting that many mixed Georgian-Russian families live in both Georgia and Russia.

He further highlighted the presence of a large Georgian diaspora in Russia, while Russian citizens and members of Russian society also reside in Georgia.

By Vafa Guliyeva