PM slams previous UNM gov’t as “bloody regime”, says Georgian Dream “saved” country on party’s 11th anniversary

Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday once again described the previous United National Movement government as a “bloody regime” and stressed the Georgian Dream, which defeated the former in the 2012 elections, had “saved the country from complete destruction”. 

 

In his messages on the ruling party’s 11th anniversary, the PM said the decision of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the party founder and the former PM, to present the party to oppose the “anti-national, anti-state and anti-European regime” was a “milstore” in the country’s contemporary history and a “turning point”.  

 

“Not only the democratic development of the country, but also the life, dignity and freedom of each person was at risk. A regime treacherous to its own people sought to maintain power even at the cost of destroying the country. We have to admit many did not see a way out of this situation at that time”, Garibashvili said. 

 

He stressed if the UNM retained office, the country would have been involved in the ongoing  Russia-Ukraine conflict and turned into a “battlefield” that as he said would mean its “complete destruction”. 

 

Garibashvili also claimed the current authorities had made the country’s European integration “irreversible” and pointed to the signing of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement, free trade and visa free agreements with the bloc, as well as Georgia’s gaining an European perspective last year, under the current authorities. 

 

He said the government continued to pursue a “national policy” which he said had meant  “strengthening the country’s sovereignty, ensuring peace, economic revival, protection and development of our culture, faith and traditions for a united, free and strong Georgia”.