Irakli Gharibashvili: We see that there is no one to stop the war in Ukraine today and let's say directly that sanctions are not effective

"We see that there is no one to stop the war in Ukraine today and let's say directly that sanctions are not an effective means," Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili said at the beginning of the governmental session.

As the Prime Minister noted, the whole world is facing great challenges and in this situation any emotion and unreasonable steps are a great risk.

"There is a huge war going on in Europe today. Europe's largest state is at war and the Ukrainian capital is being bombed. There is no one to stop this today and let’s just say that sanctions are not an effective means. Let's also say that Ukrainian soldiers and Ukrainian troops are at war in Ukraine today, therefore, we must remember well that the country and the whole world are facing great challenges and in this situation any emotion and unplanned action is a great risk. I said in my speech that as the Prime Minister of the country, I will do nothing against the interest of the country and the people, nothing! I will be guided only by our national interests, regardless of the narrative and speculation of the opposition," Gharibashvili said.

The Prime Minister also recalled the period of the 2008 war and noted that the war was caused by the "reckless, unpredictable and emotional policies" of the then government in Georgia.

"We well remember how the country lost territories and how Saakashvili handed over Kodori, which he provocatively called “Upper Abkhazia”. He also handed over Akhalgori and more than 100 villages. Thousands of our citizens have been displaced on our own territory. The consequences of the war are very severe. This was followed by the recognition of our indigenous territory and this tragedy ended with occupation. I would like to remind everyone that the Russian army left the country in 2007 and in just a few months the reckless, unpredictable and emotional policies, the failure to prevent provocations led us to war, trouble, destruction. What did the politicians do? - They continued to work under Saakashvili, continued to rob the country, murder, rape, seize business and property. Kezerashvili, who was the Minister of Defense during the war, transferred the money of the army and defense budget to offshore accounts," Gharibashvili said.

Touring Georgia with young Georgians as Partners