Papuashvili Accuses Zourabichvili and Khidasheli of Treason
On September 4, Shalva Papuashvili, the Chairman of the Georgian Parliament, stated that former Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili and former Georgian Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli were preparing to attend hearings of the Helsinki Commission to "commit an act of treason against the Motherland."
During his remarks, Papuashvili emphasized that Zourabichvili, who still considers herself the President of Georgia, intended to convince "some American senators and congressmen how bad her homeland is." He claimed, "Salome Zourabichvili considers herself the current President of Georgia; this may be part of a bipolar disorder. What does she think she is doing? She is going abroad to meet with four MPs. There will probably be a public discussion. She is going to explain to them how bad it is that Georgia is acting in its own interests, and not in the interests of America."
Papuashvili also stressed that Zourabichvili was a McCain Institute fellow, asserting that she was "on the payroll of foreigners." "What is she if not an agent?" the speaker of parliament stated. He further criticized Khidasheli, saying she was "a person financed by unrecognized Taiwan, who is paid money to stir up anti-Chinese sentiments." According to him, both figures were "two people traveling to commit an act of treason on live television."
The chairman added that America was pursuing its own interests and recalled that former US Ambassador Kelly Degnan "proved" this. He stated that on February 28, shortly after the start of the war in Ukraine, Degnan came to him and "categorically demanded" that Georgia escalate the situation with Russia by introducing sanctions and closing its skies. Papuashvili noted that everyone who pushed Georgia to impose sanctions, close its borders, or escalate with Russia was "trying to drag Georgia into the war." He concluded that such pressure came not only from Degnan but also from the President of Poland and others, stressing that "of course, they tried to directly kick us into this war."
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