Parliamentary opposition, British MP review Georgia's European perspective, 2024 elections
Davit Usupashvili, the Chair of the Parliamentary political group for the opposition Lelo party, highlighted the United Kingdom had “always been a great friend” of Georgia in his comments on the meeting. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
Tweet 
Share
Georgia's European perspective and the 2024 Parliamentary elections in the country were discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between representatives of the Georgian Parliamentary opposition and Jonathan Djanogly, the Chair of the Georgia All-Party Parliamentary Groups in the British Parliament.
Davit Usupashvili, the Chair of the Parliamentary political group for the opposition Lelo party, highlighted the United Kingdom had “always been a great friend” of Georgia in his comments on the meeting.
We had a serious conversation about the upcoming elections, and we expect a lot of involvement from Britain in terms of monitoring [the vote], as well as in terms of [Georgia’s] NATO integration”, Usupashvili said.
Khatia Dekanoidze, a member of the Parliamentary political group of Eurooptimists, said the meeting with the British counterparts was “quite interesting and intense”.
First of all, we reviewed the European perspective of Georgia and the situation we have today with regard to the fulfilment of the 12 points [outlined by the European Council for granting the country the EU membership candidate status] and the accountability of the Government in this matter”, Dekanoidze said.
She also added the meeting focused on the 2024 Parliamentary elections and on their “free and fair” conduct, which she said “also implies the very important responsibility of long-term and short-term observation missions”.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday claimed the domestic “radical” opposition continued to “speculate” on the subject of the circumvention through Georgia of the international sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, saying the allegations served “anti-state goals”.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Sunday said polarisation was a “problematic” issue of the 12 priorities, outlined by the European Union in June for granting its membership candidate status to the country, as it could not be resolved by the Government’s reforms, it required “reduction of radicalism” in domestic opposition.
Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday claimed a part of the domestic opposition was “doing everything to hinder” the country’s European integration and disrupt upcoming decisions on whether it would receive the European Union membership candidate status.
Khatuna Samnidze, an opposition MP and the Chair of the Republican Party, on Thursday said the demand for snap elections by a part of the domestic opposition was “wrong and a political short-sightedness”.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party and Jonathan Djanogly, the Chair of All-Party Parliamentary Group on Georgia in the British Parliament, on Tuesday discussed the current political processes in Georgia, as well as bilateral cooperation.
“Main directions” of the strategic partnership between Georgia and the United Kingdom, and prospects for future cooperation were discussed on Wednesday in a meeting between Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and a British Parliamentary delegation led by Jonathan Djanogly, the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Georgia in the British legislative body.
Pawel Herczynski, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, on Wednesday said he hoped the decision of European Union member states on Georgia’s membership candidate status would be “positive” and the country would get “closer” to the bloc’s membership.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said Georgia would “definitely” become a “full-fledged and worthy” member of the European family, and pledged the Government would “do everything” for the outcome.
Jonathan Djanogly, the Chair of All-Party Parliamentary Group on Georgia in the British Parliament, on Wednesday said the country's support for Georgia's Euro-Atlantic ambitions and territorial integrity had been expressed at the meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and a British Parliamentary delegation led by Jonathan Djanogly, the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Georgia in the British legislative body on Saturday discussed strategic partnership, highlighting “fruitful cooperation” through a number of important high-level visits in the first half of 2023.