Georgian PM claims MEPs “cannot stop caring” about imprisoned former President Saakashvil, who “committed a lot of crimes”

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday said members of the European Parliament “cannot not stop caring about Mikheil Saakashvili”,  the imprisoned former President of Georgia, who he said had “committed a lot of crimes”, adding the attitude was an “indicator for the Georgian society about what really drives these people”.

The PM was commenting on the European Parliament resolution against the Georgian bill on transparency of foreign influence, which was adopted on Thursday and, among other points, called for release of Saakashvili.

Kobakhidze said Saakashvili had been found guilty of abuse of power in two cases in absentia in 2018 and faced additional charges including illegal seizure of property, embezzlement, illegal rally dispersal and illegal border crossing.

The PM also claimed the MEPs had “urged Georgian people not to take care of the protection of values, the interests of minors, not to adopt a law against LGBT propaganda, [and] not to adopt a bill on transparency of foreign influence”, in reference to ruling party’s legislative initiatives.

They tell us to punish Bidzina Ivanishvili [former Prime Minister and the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party], who, beside charity [work], has taken such political steps that brought a qualitative change to the country”, he added.

The Government head said the “these odious MEPs failed to blackmail the Georgian people in 2022”, in reference to the lawmakers’ criticisms of the Government’s policies, and added the group “will not be able to blackmail them this year either".