The Georgian Dream authorities have no “political and moral rights” to evaluate the work of former president Mikheil Saakashvili, the chair of the United National Movement opposition party, Levan Khabeishvili, said on Monday. 

The comment came following the Government's critical comments on Saakashvili being awarded the Sjur Lindebrække Prize for Democracy and Human Rights by the Norwegian Conservative party on the weekend. 

“The award has angered the government representatives, the Russian Dream [in reference to the Georgian Dream authorities] and those in the Kremlin. Saakashvili has received many awards and, I am sure, many more are still ahead”, he said. 

The government members said awarding “sadist” Saakashvili, who they said had created the “criminal regime killing, tortyring and raping people”, while in office until 2012, was “shameful”.