EU, UK call on ruling party, opposition to avoid ‘political deadlock’, ‘protracted crisis’
Foreign officials call on the Georgian authorities and opposition to refrain from actions jeopardising the country's future prospects and dialogue. Photo:
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The European Union urges the Georgian authorities and opposition ‘to act with utmost restraint and responsibility to avoid further escalation’ following a court’s decision to issue an arrest warrant for United National Movement chair Nika Melia and the ‘subsequent resignation’ of Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia.
The European Union strongly believes that the political deadlock can only be resolved through sincere political dialogue. We call for immediate de-escalation in the interest of the country and of all Georgian citizens", Peter Stano, a lead spokesperson for the external affairs of the EU, has stated.
Expressing the EU’s readiness to continue supporting Georgia, Stano said that ‘political courage and genuine democratic leadership are required to reach cross-party agreement and to avoid deepening polarisation’.
Georgia:Authorities & opposition have 2act w/restraint &responsibility. Political deadlock can only B resolved in dialogue. Political courage & democratic leadership R required 2 reach cross-party agreement & avoid more polarisation. EU ready to help https://t.co/2jNl95VxjT
— Peter Stano (@ExtSpoxEU) February 18, 2021
The British Embassy to Georgia has also tweeted that ‘a protracted crisis is in no-one's interests’.
This is a difficult period. As a friend of #Georgia, we urge all involved to act responsibly, diffuse tension & allow Georgia’s continued progress towards Euro-Atlantic integration. A protracted crisis is in no-one's interests. The people of Georgia deserve better.
— UK in Georgia (@UKinGeorgia) February 18, 2021
Tbilisi City Court ruled yesterday that UNM chair Nika Melia be remanded into custody for failure to post bail for his release in a case that dates back to the June 2019 protests.
Earlier this morning Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia announced his resignation, saying that the step is connected with the upcoming arrest of Melia.
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Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry has postponed Melia's detention following Gakharia's resignation.
Welcoming Gakharia's decision, opposition says it is not enough. UNM chair Melia has called on the ruling party and opposition to meet with the facilitation of foreign ambassadors to agree on repeat parliamentary elections.
The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a statement today, saying the ministry is concerned by the political situation in Georgia and reduced chance of dialogue, encouraging the Georgian authorities and opposition to refrain from actions jeopardising the country's future prospects.
US Senator Jim Risch, Former US Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly and former MEP Rebecca Harms have responded to yesterday's decision of Tbilisi City Court which ruled to detain United National Movement chair Nika Melia.
Opposition MP and the head of the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party Nika Melia, who was named the reason for PM Giorgi Gakharia recent resignation, has stated that the opposition ‘welcomes’ the PM’s decision, but it is not sufficient.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has announced his resignation earlier today, saying that the step is connected with the upcoming arrest of the opposition MP, the head of the United National Movement opposition party Nika Melia. Gakharia has stated that Melia violated the law and has been engaged in sparking tension in the country.
Former Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, who resigned earlier today amid a disagreement with the ruling Georgian Dream party over the detention of opposition leader Nika Melia’s detention, said ‘confrontation and rivalry’ in Georgia endanger its future democratic and economic development.
Ruling Georgian Dream party member Mamuka Mdinaradze says that any discussion on holding repeat parliamentary elections is ‘speculative', responding to the opposition’s demand that snap elections be held in the country. Preparing to form a new cabinet of ministers in the coming days, Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze said the Georgian Dream 'is in full control of its move forward'.
The US Department of State has responded to current political turmoil in Georgia in regards to the possible arrest of opposition leader Nika Melia and the recent resignation of Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia and called on political parties in the country ‘to show restraint and avoid escalatory actions or rhetoric.’ The US Embassy in Georgia has stated that they appreciate the restraint shown by the authorities and the opposition in responding to the events surrounding the Melia case.
The candidate for the Georgian premiership Irakli Garibashvili has named his cabinet members earlier today which includes two new faces - candidates for the minister of infrastructure and defence. Maia Tskitishvili, who has served the country’s regional development and infrastructure minister since 2018 has resigned and her deputy, Irakli Karseladze, has been nominated as her replacement.
US Senators Jim Risch and Jeanne Shaheen are ‘deeply concerned’ by recent political developments in Georgia. Hoping ‘this political crisis will come to an end quickly and peacefully’, they said that ‘all sides of the political spectrum must now return to the negotiating table and de-escalate the political atmosphere’.