Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday said if Europe really wished to see the end of political polarization in Georgia, they should grant the country the EU membership candidate status later this year.

“This [decision] will remove all questions, speculations, will end their destructive and radical actions, and our extremist opposition will have no real reason to accuse our government," he said while addressing the parliament. 

Calling the United National Movement and their “affiliated” opposition a “fifth column willing to drag Georgia into the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict”, the PM claimed they were refusing to join his government’s efforts to obtain the status. 

Garibashvili also reiterated the imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili was the European Parliament's agent and claimed the opposition used its “lobbyists from Brussels” to hamper the country’s European integration process. 

He repeated Kyiv was “interested” in opening the “second front” in Georgia and Saakashvili’s return in September 2021 served that goal. 

“Unfortunately the goals of the Ukrainian authorities and fifth column in Georgia coincide”, he said. 

Garibashvili stressed the world facing WWIII and the major concern of his government was to “maintain peace and stability” and “save the country”. 

The PM also said the “radical opposition” stood behind Home to Europe rallies held in Tbilisi in June 2022 ahead of the EU decision on Georgia’s membership candidacy, as well as “violent” protests against the foreign agents bill earlier this month. 

Pointing to the UNM while in office, the PM stressed the country had witnessed the “fatal consequences” of running the country by the “people under foreign influence”.