Everything is a simple déjà vu, a repetition of everything, it seems that the odious parliamentarians think that in October the commission will prepare a negative report regarding the opening of negotiations, and they are trying to somehow create a negative background and intimidate the Georgian society, – the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, said when responding to the resolution adopted by the European Parliament regarding Georgia on April 25.
He claimed that MEPs have been trying to intimidate the Georgian society for the last few years and the resolutions adopted by them have no value.
“This process is a repetition of everything that happened in 2022. Certain forces, including the odious MEPs, knew that the country would not be able to receive candidate status in June 2022, and they created a negative background in society. They intimidated and blackmailed the public. At that time, 3 resolutions were adopted in relation to Georgia, where it was discussed, among them, the release of criminals, the termination of criminal prosecution against criminals, and also the punishment of Bidzina Ivanishvili. This was a kind of preparatory background for a revolution to take place in the country after failing to receive candidate status. You remember that these resolutions remained as empty papers and the country received the status the following year. Everything is simple déjà vu, a repetition of everything, it seems that the odious parliamentarians think that in October the commission will prepare a negative report regarding the opening of negotiations, and they are trying to, in some way, create a kind of negative background, to intimidate the Georgian society. These resolutions were worthless then and they have no value now”, said Irakli Kobakhidze.
The European Parliament on April 25 adopted a resolution regarding the draft law on “transparency of foreign influence”, condemning the Foreign Agents bill with 425 votes in favor, 25 against and 30 abstentions.
The joint resolution is based on the five draft resolutions proposed by MEPs on April 22 and encompasses five amendments, including the ones calling for sanctions against the Honorary Chairman of Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili, and the withdrawal of the proposed anti-LGBTQ+ Constitutional amendments.
The resolution stresses that the draft law is contrary to Georgia’s democratic values and EU aspirations and emphasizes that “EU accession negotiations should not be opened as long as this law is part of Georgia’s legal order.” The resolution emphasizes the threat the law poses to civil society organizations and human rights in general, which “runs counter to the Copenhagen criteria for EU membership,” and calls on the European Commission to provide an interim assessment of Georgia’s implementation of the EU’s nine conditions.
Related story: European Parliament adopts a resolution that provides for a possible review of visa-free travel
