As Russia continues its genocidal war against Ukraine, yet another event on “improvement” of the Russian-Georgian relations has been held in Moscow. This time, hosted by the Russian State Duma’s Committee for Eurasian Integration a conference claiming to discuss “prospect of development” of these relations brought together Russian politicians and figures from Russia-linked Georgian groups who often shared public messages with Georgian Dream and also enjoyed their backing.
Amongst the Georgian participants, for example, is Dimitri Lortkipanidze, currently chairing the Georgian Branch of the Primakov Foundation, formerly member of the Georgian March and other radical violent groups. Mr Lortkipanidze has recently – just like some of the key Georgian Dream leaders, but in an even more outlandish manner – campaigned with conspiracy theories that the West is trying to “drag Georgia into war.”
He has specifically claimed the UK Minister of Defense, Ben Wallace has been secretly pressuring PM Irakli Garibashvili to launch attack on Russian forces in Georgia’s occupied territories.
In addition to Mr Lortkipanidze has regularly attacked US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan. He also was one of the key endorsers of the July 5, 2021 mass violence by Russia-linked groups that left 55 journalists beaten, one of whom died days later.
From the Russian side, MPs Leonid Kalashnikov, Kazbeg Taisaev, Artem Kavinov and Vladimir Isakov took part alongside representatives of the Russian MFA and the Gorchakov Foundation.
The forum concluded with adoption of an address to leaders of both Georgia and Russia to resume flights between the two countries for to lift visa requirement for Georgian nationals by Russia.
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