Ruling party head says “politicised interference in justice” from MEPs “absolutely unacceptable”
In his remarks over the matter, Kobakhidze stressed respect for the rule of law was expected from “everyone”, adding the expectation was “one of the main components of European values”. Photo: Georgian Dream Press Office
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Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said attempts of “politicised interference” with Georgian justice were “unacceptable”, in his remarks on debates held on Monday in the European Parliament about latest developments around the health and sentence of the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili.
In his remarks over the matter, Kobakhidze stressed respect for the rule of law was expected from “everyone”, adding the expectation was “one of the main components of European values”.
“As for the attempt to interfere with justice with political motives, it is absolutely unacceptable. We are members of the Parliament of Georgia and we try to refrain as much as possible from making statements on topics related to the prisoner in question - his imprisonment, release, and so on. We are trying to [avoid] this, despite the fact that we are members of the Parliament of Georgia”, the GD official said.
It is absolutely unacceptable when MEPs try to carry out a politicised interference in justice. Everyone must respect the rule of law, which is one of the fundamental principles and one of the main components of European values. When we see MEPs who do not respect the elementary principle called the rule of law, it once again shows that there are serious problems in the European Parliament in terms of corruption. Corruption has many forms, it is not only about money”, he concluded.
Saakashvili is awaiting a trial hearing on whether he will be granted release or postponement of the rest of his sentence on medical grounds, with the session originally planned for Wednesday delayed to next week.
The trial hearing on whether the imprisoned former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili will be granted release or postponement of the rest of his sentence on medical grounds has been delayed from Wednesday to next week.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said it was “important” that the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili cooperated with the medical staff and the domestic penitentiary system, in his remarks over the latest developments around the former official’s health and sentence.
While the Georgian public should be united to present the country "in the best possible way" for the ongoing European integration, it is “unacceptable” that the “radical wing” of the domestic opposition is “purposefully spreading disinformation" on human rights violations and torture in the country, Justice Minister Rati Bregadze said on Tuesday in comments on the ongoing controversy around the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said the Government was “not only aware” of its responsibility in relation to developments around the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili, but also acting in accordance with the duty.
The Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia on Wednesday posted footage on social media of the imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili, which shows his condition in different periods at the Vivamedi civilian clinic.
Archil Talakvadze, the Georgian Parliament's Vice Speaker, on Thursday said the entourage of the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili “do not care about his health”, alleging their interest in facilitating his escape from justice through a bypassing of the law.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday responded to a call by the Ukrainian foreign office for Georgian authorities to accept the request for delaying the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili’s sentence for ensuring his medical treatment abroad by saying the former official had committed crimes in Georgia that necessitated his serving of the sentence in the country.
Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Committee on Human Rights, on Monday said the goal of the hunger strike declared by several members of the opposition United National Movement party in support of allowing the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili a transfer abroad for medical treatment was for “facilitating his escape from responsibility”.