Phartskhaladze: Georgia's Future Lies Only With Russia

Former Chief Prosecutor of Georgia Otar Phartskhaladze, who lives in Russia, claims that Georgia's future lies only with Russia. According to him, the Georgian nation should thank Bidzina Ivanishvili, because Georgia, unlike Ukraine, is not "sold out". Phartskhaladze took the surname Romanov a few years ago.

Phartskhaladze, who is charged in Georgia in the murder of businessman Jangveladze and in the call center cases, gave an interview to Valeri Kvaratskhelia on "Georgian Wave". He said he likes and loves Russia and does not understand why Georgia should not have relations with it.

"Let us look at what Europe and the West brought us over the last 35 years. And let us look back at the Russian period for Georgia: the state existed, people lived, were happy, were rich. What was destroyed, disintegrated and became independent, Georgia became independent from Russia and became most dependent. Whoever is not too lazy is the boss of Georgia. Georgia will be strong only together with Russia. Western special services have brought Georgia no good other than brainwashing," Phartskhaladze said.

According to him, Georgians will always have their place in Russia if they behave properly. Phartskhaladze says that Russia is not driven by evil intentions: "I can state with full responsibility. Russia is driven by very good intentions." By his own explanation, after Shevardnadze, Europe assigned Georgia the role of Russia's enemy, and a generation grew up with this idea.

"Russia is not an enemy. Russia is Georgia's only ally, if they take sound steps to come to terms with Russia, to restore again this old good life, the glory of Georgia, as it was before," he said.

According to Phartskhaladze, Georgia has many friends in the Russian government, they want to restore diplomatic relations with Georgia, and he is convinced that they want this in Georgia too. "That time will come, we cannot escape this. Russia has done nothing but good for Georgia. Abkhazia too... When the Soviet Union collapsed, it was part of the plan. They also did 2008 so that diplomatic relations with Russia would be cut off for us," he said.

On his relations with Bidzina Ivanishvili, Phartskhaladze said he no longer has any relationship with him. "I will say one thing, that he is a patriotic person and has done a great deal for Georgia. Even the fact that Georgia is not sold out, like Ukraine, and we are not in that situation, the Georgian nation should thank Bidzina Ivanishvili. He came in a very difficult period. I only wish him success," he says.

By Phartskhaladze's explanation, he had a great-grandfather who was "Prince Romanov", and that is why he took this surname in Russia. Regarding the cases against him in Georgia, he says he has no connection with any crime, while he had a good relationship with Jangveladze.