By concluding the treaty, whether the Russian Empire wanted it or not, Georgia still received a fundamental benefit - when we were on the brink of existence or non-existence, by this step of Erekle II we not only survived as a nation, but ultimately even won, which is best confirmed by the fact that today Georgia is a self-sufficient country based on Christian values, national roots and traditional European culture, - this was stated by the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, at a briefing held at the Government Administration.

As the head of the government noted, ultimately the step taken by Erekle II turned out not only to be justified, but the only correct and alternative-free decision.

“If we look at our past, specifically at the period when Erekle II had to take a most important decision, we will clearly see the extremely difficult, tragic situation in which our country and people found themselves at that time. As a result of many years of extremely severe confrontations with Persia, the Ottoman Empire and other states, not only the Georgian state, but the Georgian nation itself stood before a real threat of destruction. Georgia existed under conditions of constant attacks, wars and political pressure, which placed the country’s state and demographic future under question.

It is precisely taking into account this historical reality that we should assess the decision taken by Erekle II, all the more so against the background that Christianity, both in the past and today, has been and is one of the main pillars of the national and cultural identity of the Georgian people.

Ultimately, the step taken by Erekle II turned out not only to be justified, but the only correct, alternative-free decision. Despite the fact that every state, including the Russian Empire, acted based on its own interests and the salvation of Georgia was by no means a starting point for them, again taking into account Christianity and a number of other, no less important factors, including the demographic factor, by concluding the treaty, whether the Russian Empire wanted it or not, Georgia still received a fundamental benefit - when we were on the brink of existence or non-existence, by this step of Erekle II we not only survived as a nation, but ultimately even won, which is best confirmed by the fact that today Georgia is a self-sufficient country based on Christian values, national roots and traditional European culture. Despite many wars, occupations, political cataclysms and historical upheavals, today we have a Georgian, independent and sovereign state. This is precisely the main result of the decision taken by Erekle II,” the Prime Minister noted.

According to the Prime Minister, in that specific historical situation, relations with the Russian Empire were for Georgia not only a matter of survival, but the only way to preserve the political and cultural connection leading toward the Christian West.

“Taking into account the historical period and the extremely difficult situation in which Georgia found itself, criticism of the steps taken by Erekle II from today’s perspective is completely unfounded, all the more so since Erekle II acted and took decisions with the sole motive of saving the country, its statehood and future. Taking into account the final results, his decision, like a number of other political steps, can be assessed as a wise and even more, a brilliant state move.

Here we should not miss one important circumstance - the most active critics of Erekle II today present themselves as pro-European citizens and the main Europeans and often reason in such a way that they consider not only Georgia’s aspiration toward Europe, but even the existence of Europe itself almost as their own achievement. In reality, however, if we take into account the historical context, it was precisely the step taken by Erekle II that preserved for Georgia the opportunity to pave the way toward the European space. In that specific, unfortunate historical situation, relations with the Russian Empire were for Georgia not only a matter of survival, but the only way to preserve the political and cultural connection leading toward the Christian West. Therefore, it is particularly paradoxical when people who today present themselves as defenders of their own European choice, but in reality are pseudo-liberals, criticize Erekle II precisely for that decision which preserved for Georgia the possibility of historical existence and subsequent state development, including integration into the European space,” the Prime Minister stated.