Tina Bokuchava: As Zurab Zhvania famously said, "We are Georgians and therefore we are Europeans", neither Russia nor the current ruler of Georgia supported by it can change that

As Zurab Zhvania famously said, "We are Georgians and, therefore, we are Europeans" and neither Russia nor the current ruler of Georgia supported by Russia can change that, Tina Bokuchava, chairperson of the United National Movement, said about this during her speech at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

According to her, she is grateful to the Assembly and, in particular, to the US delegation for introducing changes in the resolutions, which "unequivocally confirm the commitment of this Assembly to protect the Euro-Atlantic choice of the Georgian people".

"Over the past few days, I have repeatedly spoken about the deteriorating situation in Georgia, where the authoritarian government led by Russian-born billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili has hijacked our country's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. The Kremlin-inspired "Foreign Agents Law" is one manifestation of the Ivanishvili government's attempt to silence critical voices in civil society organizations and the free media.

As the political imprisonment of the main opposition leader, former president Mikheil Saakashvili continues, oligarch Ivanishvili is using organized mass violence and intimidation to suppress dissent ahead of October's key parliamentary elections and deprive Georgians of a real choice. But the Georgian people have repeatedly shown resilience and determination to protect our Euro-Atlantic future. Led by tireless youth, Georgians took to the streets of Tbilisi and other cities in unprecedented numbers, despite the government's violent crackdown.

As the Prime Minister of Georgia, Zurab Zhvania famously said, "We are Georgians and therefore we are Europeans" and neither Russia nor the current ruler of Georgia supported by Russia can change that.

I am grateful to this Assembly, and in particular to the delegation of the United States, for introducing amendments to the resolutions that unequivocally affirm this Assembly's commitment to protect the Euro-Atlantic choice of the Georgian people.

In addition to the individual sanctions against those who undermine Georgian democracy that will be enacted and reviewed by member states, it is of the utmost importance that our collective action ensure a strong observation mission for the October 26 parliamentary elections. I am grateful for this assembly's recognition of these elections as decisive for the future of Georgia and for its readiness to fully implement its mandate to protect the will of the Georgian people," said Tina Bokuchava, whose comments are published by "United National Movement".

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