MEPs Kubilius, Jukneviciene call on Georgian politicians ‘start building bridges’ for political dialogue
The Lithuanian MEPs say the ‘maturity of democracy and European type of rule of law system are the preconditions for European integration’. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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Lithuanian members of European parliament (MEP) Andrius Kubilius and Rasa Jukneviciene call on all Georgian political forces ‘to start building bridges enabling normal democratic political dialogue, return to the pro-European reform track and focus on achieving very much needed progress in country’s development for the benefit of the Georgian people’.
MEP Kubilius has tweeted:
Our w @RJukneviciene statement on local elections in #Georgia ????????. We are concerned about continued politicisation of justice and future prospects of the country. https://t.co/ZvLyho5Fjd
— Andrius Kubilius (@KubiliusA) October 7, 2021
Concurring with the international observers’ assessment that the October 2 local elections in Georgia ‘were technically well-administered, but the environment was marred with widespread and consistent allegations of intimidation, vote-buying, pressure on candidates and voters and an unlevel playing field’, the MEPs says the important shortcomings must be corrected before the upcoming run-offs ‘to ensure free and fair electoral process’.
It is important that Georgia does not waste results already achieved. On our part, we are ready to continue supporting Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic ambitions, but we stress that success on this path can come only with a joint and consistent effort of the ruling party and the opposition and all pro-European political forces working together to implement strong wish of the people to see Georgia in the EU”, the MEPs say in a joint statement released earlier today.
They also expect that the legal case of former president Mikheil Saakashvili will be investigated in Georgia ‘according to the principles of European justice system’.
Unfortunately, we need to note with concern Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s recent public threat to Mr Saakashvili on additional charges to be brought, if he does not ‘behave’. This shows that the case against Mr. Saakashvili is in fact political, which is deplorable and incompatible with the status of the EU Associated country”, the joint statement reads.
It further says that in any EU country such statement coming from a government official would result in his immediate resignation.
MEP Juknevicienehas also tweeted:
We call on all Georgian political forces to start building bridges enabling democratic political dialogue, return to pro-European reform track & focus on achieving much needed progress in country’s development for the benefit of the ???????? people.@KubiliusA https://t.co/LhT9oPGRSC
— Rasa Juknevičienė (@RJukneviciene) October 7, 2021
MEPs Kubilius and Jukneviciene note that the ‘maturity of democracy and European type of rule of law system are the preconditions for European integration’, while the ruling Georgian Dream party ‘again and again are failing to prove that they are able to fulfill those conditions’.