PM: Public Support Helped Prevent "Ukrainian Scenario" in Georgia

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated on Monday that his government had “successfully averted” what he called the “Ukrainian scenario” in Georgia, crediting “public support” as a key factor.

Speaking to the media, Kobakhidze highlighted the “importance of vigilance” in “maintaining stability” amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and preventing “significant threats” to the country, The Caspian Post reports, citing Georgian media.

"This is an important warning. Over the past three years [since the outbreak of the war in February 2022], we have done everything to prevent the scenario seen in Ukraine from happening in Georgia”, he said, while also referencing the 2013-2014 Maidan protests in Ukraine as a “starting point for the crisis” that he said had since “devastated the country."

"It began with Maidan in 2013, followed by the war shortly afterward. Today, Ukraine is in ruins, with a quarter of its population displaced internally or abroad and hundreds of thousands dead. The Georgian public is more experienced, and with its cooperation, we were able to avoid war and significant threats," the PM claimed.

Kobakhidze also drew parallels between ongoing protests in Georgia, sparked by its Government's decision last month to postpone the European Union accession talks until 2028, and the Maidan movement, alleging they had “followed a script from abroad”.

"As for professional marches [in Tbilisi during the protests], you can rewind and watch the 2013-2014 Maidan - it is the exact same scenario”, Kobakhidze said and claimed the domestic opposition leaders were “orchestrating events based on external directives."

The fact that opposition leaders are hiding in their offices speaks volumes about the radical opposition’s bankruptcy. They lost the elections [in October] and the streets. This is good for stabilising and healing the political system in Georgia," Kobakhidze alleged.

He also dismissed rumours about an alleged Government plan to remove the requirement for proficiency in the Georgian language as a prerequisite for public service employment.

"This is a complete fake, a total lie. No such changes have been made to our legislation," he claimed.