West threatens Georgia with ultra-liberal agenda Russian diplomat says

Spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova has said that while threatening Georgia, Western countries are imposing their ultra-liberal agenda on it.

"What is happening in Georgia is a battle for the nation's historical existence, you can clearly see the struggle of the Georgian people for their national identity. This is no longer just about dignity; it's about existence. When people are coerced under duress - threatened not only with the cessation of aid and funding but also with direct intimidation -they are being forced to accept an ultra-liberal agenda,” the diplomat said, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

“The Western officials say that if Georgia does not act upon its instructions, it will tear all the relations with the country,” the diplomat noted.

On October 9, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) adopted a resolution calling for the suspension of EU funding to Georgia and the imposition of sanctions against individuals deemed by European officials to be undermining democracy in the country, including founder of the ruling party Bidzina Ivanishvili.  

According to the document, the laws enacted in Georgia regarding foreign agents and the ban on propaganda of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBT), which has been deemed extremist and prohibited in Russia, was also criticised.  

Executive secretary of the ruling party "Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia" Mamuka Mdinaradze stated that the resolution adopted by the European Parliament constitutes interference in Georgia's parliamentary election held on October 26, and favours the opposition.   The uncertainty follows Georgia's parliamentary election held on October 26, in which the ruling Georgian Dream party, in power since 2012, received 53.9 per cent of the vote, according to the Central Election Commission.

Four major opposition parties also cleared the electoral threshold: Coalition for Change (11 per cent), United National Movement (10.1 per cent), Strong Georgia (8.8 per cent), and Gakharia for Georgia (7.7 per cent). In the aftermath of the election, President Zourabichvili has alleged widespread fraud and has refused to recognise the election results. The president stated that there was "total fraud" and a "total theft of votes" in the recent election. 

By Naila Huseynova