Ruling party MP: opposition’s “remote conclusions” about Shovi disaster show “real goals and intentions”

Givi Mikanadze, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said conclusions made “remotely” by the opposition United National Movement party about the landslide that hit the Shovi resort in Georgia’s west and killed at least 29 people showed the party’s “real goals and intentions”.

Mikanadze’s comment followed a statement by Levan Khabeishvili, the Chairperson of the UNM, who on Tuesday said the party’s own investigation into the disaster had shown “negligence of high officials”.

In his remarks, Mikanadze noted none of UNM membership had visited the site of the tragedy to be introduced to “specific facts” about the landslide and its aftermath.

The United National Movement is trying to use every situation - including such great tragedy - in order to create some anger in the public against a strong Prime Minister, a strong Government, and raise questions”, Mikanadze said.

“The UNM has completely lost trust in the public. Any statement of theirs causes mistrust, especially in light of the fact that the public sees that no representative of the UNM came to the ground, learned specific facts, or see the tragedy and its consequences with their own eyes. On this backdrop, some conclusions being made remotely point to their real goals and intentions once again”, he continued.

Mikanadze also stressed UNM claims about the Government's “late” response to the disaster were “baseless”.