Prime Minister Rebukes MP on Jerusalem Appeal

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili rejected the appeal by a ruling party MP Shota Shalelashvili that Georgia should support the United States decision to move its Israel embassy to Jerusalem and recognize it as the country’s capital.

Shalelashvili published his open letter to Kvirikashvili on Facebook in the early hours of December 7, suggesting that the Georgian government should “discuss its participation in this process together with its main strategic partner [the U.S.],” and adding that Georgia had “a historic chance to become the first state after the U.S. that will support this important political development.”

Shalelashvili is of an opinion that such a course of action would “immediately bring benefits” to Georgia. He called on Kvirikashvili to give “an adequate assessment to the importance of this issue,” allowing Georgia to “become a supporter and a participant of a crucial global political process together with the U.S.” 

Three other MPs – Zviad Kvachantiradze and Simon Nozadze from the Georgian Dream, as well as the Alliance of Patriots leader Irma Inashvili – expressed support to Shalelashvili’s idea in their comments to his Facebook post, but the initiative was met with a rebuke in the Georgian Dream leadership, with Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili saying that addressing open letters to the Prime Minister on such sensitive matters from a parliamentary majority member was “unacceptable” to him.

“The issue is very sensitive. We shall have a discussion about this issue, and Georgia will state its position on the basis of its national interests, considering the international situation and the threats that exist in the region,” said Giorgi Kvirikashvili.

Archil Talakvadze, leader of the Georgian Dream parliamentary majority, stressed that Shalelashvili’s appeal was his “personal” initiative, and that the Government and the Parliament had “common position” on the matter. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in charge of this issue, so the political statements will be made by the Ministry.”

Shalelashvili was reportedly summoned by the State Security Service today, but the lawmaker declined to provide details, saying the conversation was strictly “personal” and had “nothing to do” with his appeal.