the president of the France-Georgia friendship group points to decisions “probably influenced by the presence of Russians a few kilometers from the capital”

Philippe Tabarot claims to have told his interlocutors in the Georgian Parliament, “that the adoption of this law would very likely delay the process of integration into the European Union”.

“The decisions taken by the Georgian government are most likely influenced by the presence of Russians a few kilometers from the capital”said Tuesday, May 14 evening on Franceinfo, Senator LR Philippe Tabarot, also president of the France-Georgia friendship group.

The France-Georgia friendship group was on a parliamentary mission to the country in recent days. “On site, we felt this tension”he explains, while thousands of Georgians demonstrated once again on Tuesday after the adoption by Parliament of a controversial bill on“foreign influence”inspired by a Russian law.

“Every evening, the opponents, especially young people, were in the street to shout their desire for Europe”says the senator, who claims to have told his interlocutors in the Georgian Parliament, “that the adoption of this law would very likely delay the process of integration into the European Union.”

“Of course, it worried us about the growing Russian influence”he continued. “We also went 45 kilometers from Tbilisi, to the border with South Ossetia. We saw physically that the Russians were at the gates of Tbilisi”. “When you see Russian camps, Russian flags, you can see the influence of Russia on its neighbor”.

Finally, Philippe Tabarot points out “the evolution of the war between Russia and Ukraine, which unfortunately seems to be turning to Russia’s advantage”. “This development most likely has an influence on the behavior of Georgian leaders who say they are next on Vladimir Putin’s list.”