EP resolution on ex-pres. Saakashvili, Ivanishvili “not worth a dime” – Kaladze

The ruling Georgian Dream party secretary general Kakha Kaladze on Wednesday said the recently adopted European Parliament resolution involving imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili and the founder of the GD and former prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili was “not worth a dime”. 

He claimed the document which on Wednesday called for Saakashvili’s transfer abroad on health grounds and imposing sanctions on Ivanishvili as a “shadow ruler” of the country, had “nothing to do with the truth”. 

“Our so-called friends come out [I will not name them] and tell us that if you do not release Saakashvili, Georgia will not receive the European Union membership candidate status. They also tell us that Ivanishvili, who has been engaged in charity all these years, is a bad person”, Kaladze said. 

The resolution was adopted with 577 votes to 33.

Prior to the adoption of the document, Kaladze, who also serves as Tbilisi mayor, said if the EU made a political decision later this year by not granting Georgia the status, “let’s leave it to themselves”. 

He stressed the Georgian Dream government had been doing its “utmost” to meet the conditions set by the bloc in June of last year for gaining the status.