Ruling party Sec Gen: parallels between Saakashvili case, prospects of Georgia joining EU “categorically unacceptable”

Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday said it was “categorically unacceptable” to draw parallels between cases involving the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili and prospects of Georgia joining the European Union.

Kaladze made the comment after he was asked about a remake by Polish MEP Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, who on Friday said if the ruling Georgian Dream party “continued to persecute Saakashvili”, the country would lose its chance of joining the EU.

In response, the Georgian official stressed Saakashvili had “committed specific crimes” for which he was serving his sentence, and added the Georgian Government would continue its work for gaining full membership of the European Union.

Saakashvili is a specific criminal in specific cases. The former President was the main ideologist, creator and developer of the terrible regime that was happening in the country [through] killing of people, massacres [and] business racket”, he said in reference to the United National Movement Government that was in office between 2003-2012.

“We know very well how people were treated in prisons. He has committed specific crimes for which he is serving a sentence. Therefore, equating [the cases] with [Georgia] joining the European Union is categorically unacceptable”, the GD official pointed out.

We continue on the path that will give us the opportunity for Georgia to become a full-fledged member of the big family called Europe, the European Union, because European integration is very important for us. Many specific steps have been taken in this direction. We continue to implement reforms, but the statements we hear [from some officials] have nothing to do with Europe, Europeanness, or democratic values”, Kaladze continued. 

He also stressed there were “no political prisoners” in Georgia after 2012, but noted there were “criminals serving sentences for specific crimes”.

“MEPs, those specific people who pretend to be supporters of our country, in reality, we know whose friends they are. [...] The statements we hear are absolutely disgusting and categorically unacceptable. Do these people have no information, do they not know what has been happening in the country for years?” Kaladze said in his response.