Georgian PM claims German lawmaker’s visit “gift” for ruling party’s electoral positions
In his comments earlier this month, The PM accused Roth of alleged cooperation with “radical domestic groups”, and claimed he had been involved in a “revolutionary attempt” in the country. Photo: Government Administration
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday claimed a visit of Michael Roth, the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the German Bundestag, to the country “benefited” the ruling Georgian Dream party and its electoral positions ahead of the parliamentary elections next month.
Kobakhidze claimed visits of “politicians like Roth” served as a “gift” for the ruling party in the election campaigning.
You are well aware of this man’s reputation - therefore the more politicians of this kind arrive in Georgia, the better for the ruling team and its electoral positions”, he said.
In his comments earlier this month, The PM accused Roth of alleged cooperation with “radical domestic groups”, and claimed he had been involved in a “revolutionary attempt” in the country.
Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Monday also accused Roth of “backing the radical wing” of the domestic opposition and “electoral interference” ahead of the October 26 general elections.
Papuashvili said Roth’s “support for the radical opposition at an anti-Government demonstration [during rallies against the law on transparency of foreign influence in May]” represented an “affront to the Georgian people, their elected Government, and the Church”.
He also labelled the German lawmaker’s speech at the demonstration in Tbilisi, in which the latter praised the protesters and pointed to alleged cooperation between the Georgian Government and the Orthodox Church Patriarchate, as “inappropriate and unwelcome”.