Head of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party Irakli Kobakhidze has slammed MEPs Viola von Cramon and Anna Fotyga for their critical comments being made towards the Georgian Dream (GD) authorities for “backsliding of democracy,” stating that the MEPs were “anti-EU, pushing the country to injustice.” 

Earlier this week Culture Minister Tea Tsulukiani accused Cramon and the US former Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly for “interfering in Georgia’s internal affairs” and being allied with the “radical” United National Movement (UNM) opposition. 

The MEPs and several foreign former diplomats have been critical to Georgia “for unfulfilled promises on the judiciary reforms,” the government’s attitude to local media, as well as recent imprisonment of the head of the opposition-minded Mtavari channel Nika Gvaramia.

Kobakhidze suggested that MEPs like Cramon and Fotyga “are protecting criminals (referring to the former UNM officials), and that “no serious comments” could be made about them. 

"No serious comments can be made about Viola von Cramon at all, and I have many reasons [for that]," Kobakhidze suggested. 

“This is actually one small group…These are exactly the anti-EU politicians, such people who are constantly pushing the system towards injustice," Kobakhidze added.

Kobakhidze noted that Cramon was “well aware” of the illegalities being committed by Gvaramia while serving the country’s Prosecutor General under the UNM, and that Gvaramia was “robbing Rustavi 2 for which he was sent to prison.” 

Cramon tweeted late on Thursday that she was trying not to react to  the “tasteless and baseless attacks but now I was left with no choice.” .

“I do not ‘interfere’ in Georgia’s affairs. I am reminding you of the obligations you took and did not fulfill (April 19 EU mediated agreement). If you want to be taken seriously, stop breaking promises, stop harming Georgia’s fragile democracy. Fix the judiciary, stop stealing microphones, stop hate and  polarization,” Cramon said.

She stated that she has been the friend of Georgia and not its governments for many years. 

“Back then, I was taught a Georgian wisdom ‘criticize your friends to their faces and your foes behind their backs”. It is time for GD to learn how to handle the criticism and truth instead of throwing tantrums,” Cramon said.