Russian Federation Council Speaker calls for Georgia’s apology
By Tea Mariamidze
Tuesday, July 2
Russia’s Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko says that the restoration of dialogue between Georgia and Russia is possible only if Georgian authorities apologize.
She said the authorities who are in Georgia today, are doing everything to ruin relations between Russia and Georgia.
“They are not independent. They are being dictated to do so. Therefore, until the authorities show themselves in power and bring order to the country, until this Russophobic wave, which the radicals have raised, will not stop, we have nothing to talk about,” she stressed.
“Let them put things in order in the country. Let them apologize for what happened, then the dialogue is possible, “Matviyenko told reporters.
When making these statements, Russia’s Federation Council Speaker referred to the latest developments in Georgia, after which, the relations between the two countries deteriorated.
On June 20-21 Russian MPs were participating in the Inter-parliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO) session chaired by Duma MP Sergey Gavrilov. During the session, Gavrilov addressed the IAO participants from the chair of the Georgian Parliament Speaker, which angered Georgian opposition MPs and protesters outside the building, who tried to enter the parliament, which escalated the situation between the demonstrators and the police.
Around 240 people were injured while up to 300 were arrested. Later, a decision was taken to wrap up the session and for the Russian delegation to leave the country. This was followed by the resignation of the Georgian parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze, also Putin’s travel ban on flights with Georgia and tightening of Georgian wine export procedures to Russia.
Matviyenko noted that there is no conflict between Georgia and Russia.
“The provocation was prepared in advance to raise the Russophobic wave,” she said.
Russia’s Federation Council Speaker is not the first who is asking for the apology from the Georgian authorities. Last week MP Gavrilov also voiced the same request.
“Without apologies [from Georgia], it is impossible to continue expanding relations in the social, cultural and tourism spheres,” he said, adding “if Georgia adhered to its commitments made to the international community and to the European course, it should immediately apologize to the Russian leadership and to the IAO for disregarding its international commitments on ensuring security at this international forum.”
Gavrilov also noted he planned to visit Georgia as a traveler, with his family members, but after the tensions are over.
In his response, Georgia’s Interior Minister, Giorgi Gakharia noted the Russian MP would not be allowed to enter the country.
Head of the international committee of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev commented on the situation with State Duma deputy Sergei Gavrilov. He said inter-parliamentary contacts in the absence of diplomatic relations should be encouraged, but “the lack of security measures makes such a dialogue impossible.”
“Parliamentary visits in the absence of diplomatic relations are not only possible but, in my opinion, should be fully encouraged by both parties - of course, if there is an interest in normalizing these relations,” he said.
However, Kosachev added a prerequisite is the preliminary approval of all parameters of possible visits and “the host country’s guarantee of generally accepted hospitality and security standards for visiting delegations.”
