MEP Viola Von Cramon has stated that former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili’s return to the country for the October 2 municipal elections ‘will not serve the interests of Georgia,’ noting that it will deepen the crisis and create unnecessary tension.
Saakashvili pledged earlier in September that he will return to Georgia for the local elections and published a photo of a reserved ticket from Ukraine to Georgia yesterday.
Cramon has criticised the former Georgian president’s intention and stated that it will ‘damage precarious political processes as well as the democratic image of the country.’
The EU does not have the resources and desire to mediate one more unnecessary political crisis that will inevitably ensue in case of Saakashvili’s return,” said Cramon.
???????? Crucial #elections ahead of polarized #Georgia. No politician should further rock the boat! I respect Mr #Saakashvili's desire to be in his country but now this will not serve ????????'s interests.
— Viola von Cramon (@ViolavonCramon) September 29, 2021
???????? #EU can not & will not mediate unnecessary new crisis ????https://t.co/RzYSegkOJM
MEP Cramon underscored that along with her colleagues she has ‘clearly communicated’ this position to Saakashvili at the recent meetings.
She also noted that the political tension in the country ahead of the ‘crucial elections’ is ‘reaching extremely dangerous levels.’
In this condition, no politician who genuinely puts the interests of his or her country above everything else should rock the boat by provoking further polarisation. Escalating the situation is the last thing Georgia and its people need,” Cramon stated.
Mikheil Saakashvili who currently chairs the Executive Committee of the Ukrainian National Reforms Council is charged with several criminal offences and the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party states that Saakashvili will be arrested if he comes back to Georgia.
He served as Georgia’s third president from 2004 to 2013 and left the country back in 2013 after the GD came to power in 2012.