Ruling party official claims “radical” opposition aiming for country’s failure to receive EU candidate status

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday claimed the goal of the domestic “radical” opposition was to see the country fail to receive the European Union membership candidate status and see war break out in Georgia amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

In his remarks, Mdinaradze contrasted the alleged aim with the goal of the ruling team to ensure “economic development, stability and peace”.

I really do not have an expectation that [the opposition] will be involved in implementing the [EU] recommendations [for receiving the status]”, Mdinaradze said, before accusing a part of the opposition of plans for causing unrest.

“[I]t is evident from their statements that they aim to fulfil a three-point plan [instead] - the first point is to raise [the public’s] expectations on receiving the status as much as possible and then [ensure] not receiving it. [...] After that - staging a revolution, chaos and changing the Government”, the GD official said. 

Mdinaradze stressed the scenario described by him would be promoting “Russian interests” in the country, and pointed out actions of the “radical” opposition were “wilfully or inadvertently” supporting plans of the occupier country”.

If their plan were to be implemented, it is inconceivable that Russia would not come here within a month at most. This is their goal”, he said.