Georgians urged to resist russian influence, echoes of Ukraine
Dmytro Kuleba, the former Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, called on the citizens of Georgia to continue resisting Russian influence. He likened the current situation to the "Ukrainian scenario."
On Friday, Dmytro Kuleba compared the situation in Georgia to the events that transpired in Ukraine in 2013. He noted that the leader of Georgia's ruling party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, was following similar instructions to those followed by Ukraine's then-President, Viktor Yanukovych.
"The Georgian government cloaked its creeping concessions to Russia with promises to avoid the so-called "Ukrainian scenario," referring to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Tragically, what we are witnessing in Georgia today is precisely a Ukrainian scenario - but of a different kind," Kuleba wrote on social media.
According to Kuleba, Georgia currently mirrors the events in Ukraine exactly 11 years ago when the Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity began. He recalled how in 2013, Yanukovych announced he would not sign an association agreement with the European Union, sparking mass protests. In response, Ukrainians rose to defend their dignity, thus changing the course of history.
Appeal to protesters in Tbilisi
Kuleba issued an appeal to the protesters, emphasizing that their fight is more than just a choice between a pro-European and a pro-Russian political direction.
"It’s about the fundamental right to live freely," Kuleba emphasized. Protests erupted on Thursday evening, including in Tbilisi, in response to the government's decision to suspend talks on Georgia's EU membership until 2028.
The benefits of the fight are clear, according to Kuleba; it's a choice between freedom and the loss of prosperity to Russian influence. The former Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs encouraged Georgians with the words: "You are a proud nation. Fight and prevail - don’t let them steal your future."
