Ruling party official claims European Parliament resolution “attempt to influence” upcoming elections in favour of UNM opposition
Mdinaradze further alleged the “West’s interest in dragging the country into war” amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine was “so strong” that they had “even halted adopting” legislative initiatives similar to the domestic transparency law. Photo: Georgian Dream Press Office
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Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday claimed the European Parliament's latest resolution on “democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia” was an “attempt to influence” the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for October 26 in favour of the opposition United National Movement party.
Mdinaradze’s comments came after the EP on Wednesday passed the resolution - proposed by 14 MEPs last week - that included demands for sanctioning Bidzina Ivanishvili, the Honorary Chair and the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party and other officials, securing release of Mikheil Saakashvili, the imprisoned former President of Georgia, imposing sanctions against Russia and a recall of the controversial law on “family values and protection of minors”, adopted in September by the country’s Parliament.
Mdinaradze further alleged the “West’s interest in dragging the country into war” amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine was “so strong” that they had “even halted adopting” legislative initiatives similar to the domestic transparency law.
Yesterday’s resolution proved that the European Parliament does not care about wishes of Georgian citizens. They told us that ‘we don’t care about [Georgian] people, repeal the laws that don’t suit us. The citizens are irrelevant. Release the murderer Saakashvili and sanction the person [Bidzina Ivanishvili], who guarantees peace [in the country] and is a philanthropist’. They told us this directly”, the ruling party official said.
He also added that it was “openly stated for the first time from a high European platform” that “sanctions must be imposed” on Russia.
“This means that Georgia must face an economic collapse at least twice as severe as during the pandemic. Therefore, these are direct calls for war”, Mdinaradze claimed.
Nikoloz Samkharadze, the Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Wednesday also expressed criticism of the resolution, describing its content as “nonsensical”.