Georgia’s ex-ambassador to EU joins former PM Gakharia’s party
Georgia’s Former Ambassador to the EU Natalie Sabanadze resigned in March 2021. Photo: Georgia’s representation to the EU.
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Georgia’s former ambassador to the EU, Natalie Sabanadze, who resigned back in March 2021 after eight years in the post, has joined the political party of former Georgian PM Giorgi Gakharia For Georgia, Gakharia has confirmed.
Sabanadze attended yesterday’s meeting with MEP Viola von Cramon along with Gakharia to discuss the situation created after the ruling party’s withdrawal from the EU-mediated agreement.
I am honored to announce Dr. @natasabanadze as foreign policy advisor. Confident that her knowledge and experience will further strengthen #ForGeorgia’s team!
— Giorgi Gakharia (@GakhariaGiorgi) July 30, 2021
Gakharia commented that the ruling party had left an agreement which had resolved a six-month political crisis in the country and proposed large-scale reforms ‘because of the fear of losing power.’
He stated that the ruling party is not capable of coping with the current challenges in the country and that the Georgian people ‘are well aware of this.’
Sabanadze left her post shortly after Gakharia resigned in February 2021 because of controversies with the ruling party.
Sabanadze did not give the exact reason for her decision, but she said that ‘Georgia’s European future is a cause worth fighting for. It is a cause in which I believe; it is not merely about EU membership but it is about living in freedom and dignity.’
Georgian Ambassador to the European Union Natalie Sabanadze has announced her resignation after having represented Georgia in Brussels for almost eight years. Sabanadze said she decided to submit her resignation last week.
Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and Gerry Connolly, co-chairs of the House Georgia Caucus, urge all parties 'to take a step back, reassess their priorities, and work together to strengthen Georgia’s democracy – not tear it down'. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom also urges all political parties to work together to achieve political stability and reach consensus for the benefit of all the Georgian people.
MEP Viola von Cramon is now holding informal meetings in Tbilisi with Georgian opposition parties and members following the recent decision of the Georgian Dream ruling party to withdraw from the April 19 EU-mediated agreement.
The ruling Georgian Dream party has annulled its signatory status to the April 19 EU-mediated agreement which resolved a six-month political crisis in the country following the 2020 parliamentary elections and proposed large-scale electoral and judiciary reforms.Head of the ruling Georgian Dream party Irakli Kobakhidze stated earlier today that the agreement initiated by the European Council President Charles Michel ‘had completed its mission’ and accused opposition parties of non-fulfilment of the agreement.