In an unprecedented move, the Lithuanian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee adopted a statement slamming the Georgian Government’s track record during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. While extending unreserved backing to Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations, the statement lays out strongly-worded criticism on issues ranging from possible use of Georgia by Russia to avoid sanctions to the resurgence of Stalin’s image in Georgia.
The statement comes amid the recent claim by the Ukrainian Military Intelligence that Russia may be trying to use Georgia for smuggling items of dual use and that the Georgian government has given the State Security Service instruction “not to interfere.”
Mirroring the controversy, the statement expresses concern over “public statements by the Government of Georgia announcing its refusal to join the economic and individual sanctions against Russia imposed by the European Union, NATO and other democratic states,” adding a direct call on the Georgian Government “to avoid any steps that may facilitate circumvention of sanctions on Russia and Belarus imposed by the EU, NATO and other democratic states due to their aggression against Ukraine;”
The document specifically blasts repeated verbal attacks on Ukraine by the Georgian Dream leaders and says their statements “undermine the Ukrainian leadership and Ukraine’s heroic fight for European freedoms and values.”
The Lithuanian MPs also condemn “the establishment in Georgia of signs to perpetuate the memory of the dictator of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin,” mirroring the emergence of 11 new statues of Joseph Stalin throughout Georgia since 2012.
The statement also touches upon on the situation of the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili and calls on the Georgian leadership to facilitate his transfer to a European country for urgent treatment due to “serious health issues.”
Noting the deep political polarization, the Lithuanian Seimas Foreign Affairs Committee also mentions “attacks on the media and imprisonment of political opponents’ function to reinforce Russia’s malign influence over the Georgian society.”
The document calls NATO and EU members to support the drafting of an Action Plan for Georgia’s NATO accession and granting the status of an EU candidate country to Georgia.
