Georgian PM: time of Georgian authorities serving foreign interests “over”

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday said the time of Georgian politicians and authorities “serving the interests of foreign countries” was “over”, in comments on a “shameful” European Parliament resolution in February that said Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former Prime Minister and the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, was “responsible” for the controversial circumstances around the health of the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili..

In his remarks on the resolution, Garibashvili alleged it illustrated some MEPs’ “disregard for the opinion of the Georgian people” and Saakashvili’s “torturing [and] killing of people, terrorising of the business and complete suppression of media freedom” during the previous United National Movement Government.

The PM also alleged the resolution demonstrated its authors’ position “that Saakashvili is their agent”, and rejected efforts by “MEPs and some corrupt bureaucrats dictating to the Georgian people” using its adoption.

I want to tell everyone that the time when politicians and authorities served the interests of foreign countries is over in [our] country. We serve the interests of Georgia. Everyone should remember this well, and not try to interfere in the internal affairs of our country”, he noted.

“Georgian people know very well what the country needs today. Georgian people no longer need violent dictators, violent Saakashvili, and their criminal system. Georgian people need peace, development, prosperity and unification of our country”, Garibashvili concluded.

Saakashvili, who has Ukrainian citizenship and held a public post in the country, was arrested on return to Georgia in October 2021 and is serving a six-year term for abuse of power in a case he had been convicted on. 

The former President has been undergoing treatment in the Vivamedi civilian clinic in Tbilisi since May 2022, with his legal team and family alleging inadequate medical provisions and calling for his transfer abroad.

The Tbilisi City Court in February rejected an appeal for granting Saakashvili release or postponement of the rest of his sentence on medical grounds, with the Tbilisi Court of Appeals upholding the ruling earlier this month.