Opposition Calls on Gov’t to Openly Support UK against Russia
By Tea Mariamidze
Monday, March 19
Georgia’s parliamentary minority, European Georgia, calls on the government to make an official statement expressing support to the United Kingdom, which has cut all diplomatic ties with the Russian Federation following the poisoning case of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in London.
European Georgia stated they fully support the government of the United Kingdom and its people and condemn the usage of chemical weapon.
The opposition party also expressed solidarity to the joint statement of the UK, France, Germany, the United States and NATO.
“Russia should be held responsible for its criminal actions, including occupation of Georgian territories, kidnappings and killing of people,” the party stated.
The European Georgia believes that about the recent developments, Georgia should stand by the side of its partner, Britain.
“We call on the Georgian government and Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili for the official and open support of Great Britain,” the party stressed.
Georgian government has not made any official statement regarding the recent developments between the UK and Russia yet.
However, Georgia’s Vice-Premier and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mikheil Janelidze, tweeted a few days ago to express Georgia’s support to the United Kingdom.
“Georgia stands by the British people and the Government,” Janelidze stated strongly condemning the nerve agent attack in Salisbury.
The attempted murder of a former Russian double agent and his daughter on British soil on March 4th has led to accusations of Russian state involvement.
The British government is expelling 23 Russian diplomats after Moscow refused to explain how a nerve agent was used against the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia in Salisbury.
BBC reports Russia responded to the UK sanctions by saying it would expel 23 British diplomats, as well as closing the British Council in Russia and the British Consulate in St Petersburg.
France, Germany, the US and UK said in a joint statement Russian involvement was "the only plausible explanation".
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the "UK is not alone" and Russia has underestimated the "resolve and unity" of the UK's allies.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was not worried by international expressions of support for the UK, claiming Russia has no links to Skripal case.
