Ruling party head: MEPs Kubilius, Jukneviciene same as members of “radical Georgian opposition’

There is no difference between MEP Andrius Kubilius and Gubaz Sanikidze (opposition member) and between MEP Rasa Jukneviciene and Salome Samadashvili or Nona Mamulashvili (members of the parliamentary opposition), ruling party head Irakli Kobakhidze stated on Tuesday, responding to the critical letter by the MEPs towards the Georgian Dream authorities. 

Kobakhidze suggested that the MEPs “are the friends of the United National Movement opposition.” 

“A friend of the United National Movement is impossible to be the friend of Georgia,” Kobakhidze said. 

The MEPs have urged the Georgian Dream authorities to “pass power over others” if they were unable to ensure genuine progress on the country’s path to the EU. 

In an open letter to the Georgian people released on Monday, the MEPs suggested that granting EU candidate status to Georgia “is not a matter of convincing us, friends of Georgia, by words, it is a matter of real commitment and united effort that has to be demonstrated by the Government, the political opposition, and the people.”

“The Georgian Government must realize that a solution to Georgia’s problems is in Tbilisi, not in Brussels. If this challenge is too big for this Government, there are democratic ways to pass it over to others, without grabbing onto the chairs at all costs. On the other hand, the opposition parties must also find the strength to rise above separate issues and propose a credible strategy of European integration to the people of Georgia and to show a credible leadership, which is needed for such a task,” said the MEPs. 

The MEPs stated that for a long time, Georgia was “at the forefront” of the path towards EU integration, while the Georgian Dream authorities slowed the progress.