Bendukidze: Government will not Yield to Blackmail
Georgian State Minister for Economic Reforms Kakha Bendukidze said on November 8 that the Georgian government will not yield to Russia?s blackmail and will not agree to unfavorable deals with Gazprom.
On November 7 the Russian energy giant proposed that Tbilisi hand over some of its assets in exchange for cheap gas.
Bendukidze was a target for opposition lawmakers? criticism on November 8 because of the State Minister?s statements made several months ago that he sees no threat in selling Georgia?s North-South Caucasus Gas Pipeline system, which is used to deliver Russian gas to Georgia and Armenia.
Opposition MPs from the New Rights and Republican parties accused Bendukidze of being ?Russia?s agent? in Georgia.
?Our opposition is dishonest,? Bendukidze said in response.
?I have heard some very ultra-leftist, often Bolshevik and Communist-style ideas from the opposition politicians recently,? he added, apparently referring to a proposal of the Republican Party to buy out the energy facilities in Georgia that are currently controlled by Russian companies.
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