Ex-President says Gov’t resignation “must be ensured” in case of no EU candidate status

Georgia’s imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili on Wednesday said the public “must all work together to ensure that the Georgian Government resigns” if the country failed to receive the European Union membership candidate status later this year.

Saakashvili said the potential development would need to lead to new elections in the country, and that the vote would need to be “held under a Government of national accord”. 

This is beyond doubt, we have no time to lose. Everyone must stand together! Protest is a sign of Europeanness”, Saakashvili said while remotely participating in a court session.

“Today, they are killing me for a simple reason - they are punishing me and killing me because I set a successful foreign [policy] precedent. They are punishing me and killing me because I went to Ukraine, I helped them, and I play a very big role in that country”, he continued.  

Saakashvili also claimed his imprisonment was Putin’s “personal revenge” because “he does not like successful Georgians”.

Brainwashing is ongoing and instead of there being nine successful years in the history of Georgia [referring to the period UNM was in power], a large part of the population - including the young people - has been taught that that period was of ‘nine bloody years’”, Saakashvili continued.

The former official also said he appreciated the “fighting spirit” of Georgian citizens and added “nothing can stand” in their way.