Georgian Opposition Alliance of Patriots to Visit Russia, Again
The Alliance of Patriots of Georgia (APG), a Georgian parliamentary opposition party which is often affiliated with Russia, has announced their third visit to Moscow.
The APG party, which gained six mandates in Georgia’s 150-seat parliament during the October 2016 elections, claimed from the very beginning that dialogue with Russia was necessary to solve Georgia’s territorial problems.
The Political Secretary of the APG, Gocha Tevdoradze stated the MPs: Ada Marshania, Giorgi Lomia and Nato Chkheidze will leave for Russia after April 10.
“We have had two visits to Moscow already. Now is the most important moment, the dialogue is necessary to be continued,” Tevdoradze told Netgazeti, adding the APG members will discuss all important issues with the Russian lawmakers, including the issue of territorial integrity of Georgia.
The last visit of the APG MPs to Moscow took place on October 1, 2017, while the first one took place in June, 2017.
The Alliance of Patriots believes the government of Georgia should follow their example and start political dialogue with Russia.
The Russian Communist Party Head, Leonid Kalashnikov, who met the APG members during both visits in Moscow, stated the dialogue between the APG and Russian lawmakers is of utmost importance.
The other political parties of Georgia frequently criticize the APG for their visits to Russia, calling the APG is a lobbyist of Russia in Georgian parliament.
Georgia and Russia cut diplomatic ties in 2008 after the August War. Since then, meetings of the Georgian Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Relations with Russia, Zurab Abashidze, and the State Secretary and Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, Grigory Karasin, have been the only direct format of negotiations between the two states.
By Thea Morrison
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