Konstantin Zatulin, Chairman of the State Duma (the lower house of the Russian parliament) Committee on CIS Affairs, stated that Georgia will not sever transport links with Russia or join EU sanctions “at Brussels’ command.” The Russian politician noted that the EU’s demands on Tbilisi constitute “blackmail” by Brussels. “The European Union continues to blackmail Georgia using its own aspirations,” the deputy declared. According to the deputy, Brussels is attempting to push Tbilisi toward confrontation with Moscow and essentially “open a second front in the south against Russia.” He noted that back in 2022, the Georgian authorities refused, as Zatulin put it, “to pull chestnuts out of the fire for Europe,” despite the country’s course toward joining the EU and NATO. The State Duma deputy […]
Konstantin Zatulin, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, stated that Georgia will not sever transport links with Russia or join EU sanctions “at Brussels’ command.”
The Russian politician noted that the EU’s demands on Tbilisi constitute “blackmail” by Brussels.
“The European Union continues to blackmail Georgia using its own aspirations,” the deputy declared.
According to the deputy, Brussels is attempting to push Tbilisi toward confrontation with Moscow and essentially “open a second front in the south against Russia.”
He noted that back in 2022, the Georgian authorities refused, as Zatulin put it, “to pull chestnuts out of the fire for Europe,” despite the country’s course toward joining the EU and NATO.
The State Duma deputy also emphasized that, despite the absence of diplomatic relations between Moscow and Tbilisi following the conflicts surrounding the Tskhinvali region and Abkhazia, the Georgian authorities are not prepared to sacrifice their own interests for the sake of EU policy.
Moscow Threatened Tbilisi with Possible Consequences Due to EU Course
“We do not have the best relations with Georgia; we still have no diplomatic relations. This is not related to the European Union, but to the conflicts in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russia has recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia; the Georgian political class is not inclined to drop its previous claims against Russia, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia.
At the same time, Georgia has realized that it does not want to play games with Russia against the backdrop of the Ukrainian conflict. Therefore, I do not think that Georgia will agree to the EU’s conditions and submit to its dictates. Georgia is not ready to become a victim for the sake of the EU’s struggle with Russia. Only the Georgian opposition is ready for this, but it does not enjoy the trust of the majority,” Konstantin Zatulin stated.
Furthermore, the Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs believes that only the Georgian opposition is ready for a harsher anti-Russian course, which, according to him, “does not enjoy the trust of the majority.”
As a reminder, Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, previously stated that Georgia’s potential alignment with sanctions against Moscow and EU accession could lead to the loss of trade preferences, hit the tourism industry, and complicate ties between the citizens of the two countries.
Later, Mikhail Kalugin, Director of the Fourth CIS Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated that through its policy of isolating Russia, the EU has “clashed” with Georgia as well: Brussels is pressuring the Georgian authorities and “unceremoniously interfering in Georgia’s internal affairs,” but a “more pronounced pragmatism” oriented toward national interests has prevailed in Tbilisi.
Russian Foreign Ministry: EU Goal is to Damage Russia at the Expense of Georgia’s Interests
