MEP Jukneviciene to Georgian ruling party: de-oligarchization means de-Ivanishvilization

If the Georgian Dream (GD) ruling party failed to understand what de-oligarchization means, I will help them and tell that de-oligarchization means de-Bidzinization, or de-Ivanishvilization [referring GD founder Bidzina Ivanishvili], MEP Rasa Jukneviciene from the European People’s Party (EPP) said during the discussion of the annual report of the EU-Georgia  Association Agreement in the European Parliament on Wednesday.

The governmental and GD officials claimed that a section in the European Commission recommendations for the country’s candidate status on de-oligarchization did not concern Ivanishvili.

The GD  praised Ivanishvili’s deeds while in power and his charity activities and slammed the European Parliament resolution last month which recommended imposing sanctions on Ivanishvili, pointing at his pro-Russian sentiments and accusing of hampering Georgia’s political and economic progress through “running the county from the backstage.”

Jukneviciene suggested that the Georgian people deserved the EU support, noting the county seemed to be a hostage of Ivanishvili.

She said that the EU’s support lied in assisting the county “to get rid of” pro-Kremlin policies.

Jukneviciene stated that the EU could rely on the Georgian civil sector, who were “taking steps” for Georgia’s European integration, including organizing the pro-Western rallies.

The GD had several times accused EPP MEPs of backing the “radical opposition” in Georgia as EPP and the United National Movement are allied parties.