We are a Christian nation and we belong in Europe, Georgian PM tells Euronews in exclusive interview

euronews (in English)

As Georgia prepares for pivotal elections on Sunday, PM Irakli Kobakhidze spoke to Euronews about the country's history of Christianity and EU aspirations, and dismissed Russia's influence.

Transcript

00:00On the 26th of October, Georgia will hold parliamentary elections, marking a pivotal

00:06moment as the country's first under a fully proportional system.

00:12The stakes are high, with the outcome potentially shaping the nation's future integration within

00:17the EU and its movement away from Russian influence.

00:22In an interview with Euronews, Georgia's Prime Minister, Irakli Kobak-Hidze, said the nation's

00:27orthodox values make it an ideal partner to Europe.

00:31To be part of the European family is a kind of historic choice for Georgia and for Georgians.

00:37We know that we are a Christian nation and Europe was always associated with Christianity

00:46and was defending and protecting Christianity for Georgia.

00:49So that's why Europe was always a kind of natural choice for Georgia and for Georgians.

00:57Georgia was granted EU candidate status last year, but controversial legislation introduced

01:02by the government since then has put the country's accession talks at risk.

01:09Of particular concern is the Foreign Agents Bill, which critics say is based on a similar

01:14law in Russia aimed at stifling political dissent.

01:19But Georgia's Prime Minister says Russian influence is non-existent.

01:24You can say that Russia is not influential in Georgia.

01:31There are no political parties where they would enjoy their influence.

01:35There is no influential media channels with their influence.

01:41So that's why the Russian side cannot influence the elections in Georgia, essentially.

01:49The campaign environment heading into the elections has been heavily polarised and with

01:53opinion polls continuing to produce contradictory results, Georgia's future remains unclear.

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