President Margvelashvili comments on current political situation in ruling coalition
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Georgia’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili believes the "political confrontation” in the ruling Georgian Dream coalition creates a threat to the efficient functioning of state institutions and the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration.
Margvelashvili, who is in Vienna, Austria where he is participating in the second United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, commented after Alasania criticised the arrests of several officials in the Defence Ministry as politically motivated.
"We considerably watch the crisis in the ruling Georgian Dream coalition. But we have not made a statement about this issue because we believe that the members of the coalition have to overcome this situation with their resources,” Margvelashvili said.
"We have stressed a number of times that the country should be ruled with strong institutions and not from the backstage.”
"The current situation has bought us to the reality that political confrontation creates threats to the efficient functioning [of the country], it creates threats to the country’s Euro Atlantic integration and primarily, it creates a threat to the Georgian Army, which is guarantor of our country’s sovereignty,” Margvelashvili said.
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has introduced the country's new Defence Minister today.
"I cannot call this situation political crisis,” says Georgian Vice Prime Minister Kakha Kaladze while assessing the recent Governmental changes in the live interview with Rustavi 2.
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili made a special statement at a briefing after his meeting with the coalition majority at the Georgian Dream coalition office this evening, where he announced he had dismissed the country’s Defence Minister Irakli Alasania.
State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Alex Petriashvili announced his resignation during a live interview with the Georgian Maestro TV after receiving news of the dismissal of his political ally Defence Minister Irakli Alasania. Alasania was fired by the Prime Minister last evening.
Georgia’s Defence Minister Irakli Alasania believes two criminal investigations related to the Ministry of Defense and general staff of the Georgian Armed Forces (GAF) was "obviously politically motivated”.
Four current and one former high officials from the Ministry of Defence have been arrested for allegedly misspending 4.1 million GEL.
Georgia’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has once again been brought into the public spotlight after the Chief Prosecutors Office announced negligence charges against several Ministry officials today.
Defence Minister Irakli Alasania has complete confidence in the integrity of his employees and says he is sure of "complete innocence” in the case of allegedly misspending 4.1 million GEL of state money by Ministry high officials.
Georgia’s Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze resigned a day after Prime Minister sacked Defense Minister Irakli Alasania after he criticized the arrests of several Defence Ministry officials as politically motivated and an "attack on Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic choice”.
US Ambassador in Georgia Richard Norland says people should not speculate about the dismissal of the country's Defence Minister and said the country must continue working towards its Euro-Atlantic goals.
Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili believes allegations made by recently dismissed Defence Minister Irakli Alasania and former Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze that the country’s European and Euro-Atlantic policy threats are "ridiculous and naïve.”
Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili is calling statements of three former high officials who left their duties this week – one was dismissed and two resigned) - as "totally irresponsible” and their actions of quitting their duties could be seen as "sabotage” against country.
The Georgian leader believed the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) coalition would have the majority in Parliament despite Alasania and members of the Free Democrats quitting the coalition and the Government will continue to work more effectivly.
Justice Minister continues role, optimistic about Georgia’s European future "There is no bright future for Georgia if it diverts from its European path,” said Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani.
Parliament Speaker David Usupashvili says he is confident Georgia’s domestic and foreign policy was clearly defined and any suggestion that there is a threat to the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration are unreasonable.
European Union (EU) Ambassador to Georgia Janos Herman is responding to the political developments in Georgia and says he is confident in Georgia’s European integration.