Prepared by Messenger Staff
Lelo Says Georgian Dream Softened Its Position on Ukraine After Russia's Lack of Progress
Grigol Gegelia, one of the leaders of Lelo - Strong Georgia, accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of changing its tone toward Ukraine because Russia has failed to make significant progress in its war against Ukraine.
"We see Georgian Dream's retreat on the issue of Ukraine," Gegelia said, arguing that the party had previously taken a much more hostile position toward Kyiv.
Gegelia pointed to recent statements and actions by Georgian officials, including support for Ukrainian children in Georgia and the marking of Ukraine's Independence Day.
He said Georgian Dream had expected Russia to achieve a quick victory but had now changed its approach after Russia failed to make major military gains.
Gegelia accused Georgian Dream of lacking consistent principles and said its policies toward Ukraine had shifted from criticism and accusations that Kyiv was seeking to draw Georgia into the war to a more conciliatory approach.
Gegelia said the change showed that Georgian Dream's policy was driven by political interests rather than a consistent ideological position.
Georgian Diaspora in Russia Launches Orthodox Icon Exchange
The Georgian diaspora in Russia has launched the "Praying Together" project, under which hundreds of Orthodox icons depicting St. Gabriel and St. Seraphim of Sarov will be exchanged between the Georgian and Russian Orthodox Churches.
The Georgian Federal National-Cultural Autonomy in Russia said the first batch of icons had already been painted in Georgia and was ready to be transferred to Russian Orthodox churches.
The icons will be produced under the title "Friendship of the Peoples of Russia and Georgia." David Tsetskhladze, president of the Georgian diaspora organization, described the project as one of the largest Orthodox initiatives in modern Russian-Georgian relations.
"We are not just exchanging gifts. We are connecting the patrons of our nations to show that spiritual kinship is stronger than any political circumstances," Tsetskhladze said.
The initiative was proposed by volunteers led by journalist and director Konstantine Tsertsvadze. The organization said the project was blessed by Georgian Patriarch Ilia II in 2018.
