If decision “non-political”, Georgia will receive EU candidate status – ruling party MP

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party in the state legislature, on Wednesday said if the European Union did not make a “political decision” related to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, then Tbilisi would be granted its membership candidate status later this year. 

“Based on objective criteria, it is impossible for Georgia not to receive the status”, the legislator said. 

In comments on the last year’s decision of the European Council to grant Ukraine and Moldova the status and Georgia European perspective, the MP stressed it was a “political decision’ as Georgia was “far ahead” of the duet in a number of directions. 

He noted the Georgian authorities had “positive expectations” over the EU  candidacy, but said the bloc could also act based on “political interests”.