Parliament Committee Chair says part of domestic opposition trying to “cast shadow” over implementation of EU conditions

Irakli Kadagishvili, the Chairman of the Rules and Procedural Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, on Tuesday said the aim of the opposition United National Movement, Lelo and Strategy Aghmashenebeli parties was to “cast a shadow” over the process of the implementation of the European Union conditions for granting the country the membership candidate status.

In his remarks over the matter the Parliament official alleged a part of the domestic opposition was acting beyond the parliamentary framework.

We know that the United National Movement and the parties affiliated with it - Lelo and Strategy Agmashenebeli - are not participating [in the process of implementation of the EU conditions]. The reason for this is well known to everyone. Their goal is to cast a shadow over the implementation of these recommendations”, Kadagishvili said.

Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on August 1 said the domestic opposition was “doing everything” to prevent the country from receiving the European Union membership candidate status as it believed the outcome would boost the Government’s position.

• Ruling party head: opposition “doing everything” to prevent country from receiving EU candidate status

Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili on July 15 said a part of the domestic opposition was “sabotaging” the process of Georgia fulfilling the 12-point conditions established by the European Union for granting it the membership candidate status.