'We Need a New Georgievsk: Pro-Russian Party Urges Kobakhidze and Putin

Businessman Pipia addressed both Irakli Kobakhidze and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russian from Telavi, where he celebrated the 241st anniversary of the signing of the Georgievsky Treaty with fellow party members.

According to Mamuka Pipia, at the end of the 18th century, it was Russia that provided strong support for Georgia and became a "shelter of salvation" for the "broken little country" as it "struggled for the right to exist" against Muslim forces. He claims that now the aggressor is the West, which is attempting to destroy Russian civilization and cast Georgia into the "abyss of war." Pipia emphasized that Russia and Georgia must unite once again to face the "enormous challenges of the times."

"Georgia and Russia should overcome their differences and unite without any preconditions. Like our ancestors at the end of the 18th century, we have no choice but to create a common economic, cultural, informational, and military-political space. Without this, it is impossible to ensure conditions for lasting peace, development, and prosperity," said Pipia.

He also noted that parliamentary elections are scheduled in Georgia for the end of October and that "anti-state forces are preparing a coup."

"If there is an anti-constitutional change of government, Georgia will face the threat of disintegration and destruction. The entire Georgian society should be prepared to prevent the West from gaining revenge. Therefore, we urge the Georgian authorities to begin negotiations with the Russian side to quickly restore diplomatic relations.

We call on the authorities of both countries to start preparing the conditions for the restoration of good-neighborly relations, with the goal of reestablishing the strategic connection between Moscow and Tbilisi as swiftly as possible. It is time to restore a common security space," said Mamuka Pipia.

During his stay in Telavi, Mamuka Pipia mentioned in an interview that there are currently very strong signals coming from top representatives of the Russian government, and that "neither our ancestors nor the future will forgive us" for not acting on them.

Georgia severed diplomatic relations with Russia in 2008, following the August war and Moscow's recognition of the independence of the de facto republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Recently, Valentina Matviyenko, the chairman of the Federation Council, the upper chamber of the Russian Parliament, stated that Russia is ready for dialogue with Georgia, despite the lack of diplomatic relations.