Georgia’s ruling party official: all EU candidate countries, including Georgia, should join union that respects dignity and sovereignty of its member states

Irakli Kirtskhalia, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party faction in the legislative body, on Friday said all EU candidate countries, including Georgia, should join a union that respects the dignity and sovereignty of its member states.

Kirtskhalia made the remarks while commenting on the European Parliament’s recently adopted report on Georgia prepared by MEP Rasa Juknevičienė.

He said he had consistently avoided criticizing Ukraine’s authorities, while expressing support for the Ukrainian people and their desire for peace.

“We have always refrained from making the kind of objective statements about Ukraine that its authorities deserved in the past or may deserve today. With all my heart, I wish peace to the Ukrainian people”, Kirtskhalia said.

He also criticised recent discussions within the European Union regarding the rights of future member states, arguing that candidate countries should join a union that respects their sovereignty and national dignity.

“I wish all candidate countries, including my own country, accession to a worthy union, not one where statements by some high-ranking officials would be better accompanied by the hammer and sickle flag. We hear that new members should not have voting rights and should effectively give up their sovereignty. I wish all candidate countries membership in a union where a country’s dignity is respected, not in a union where, particularly in relation to Ukraine, we see approaches that are immoral”, Kirtskhalia concluded.

The European Parliament adopted Rasa Juknevičienė’s report on Georgia. The report was approved by 436 votes in favour and 145 against.

The report adopted by the European Parliament discusses sanctions against representatives of the Georgian authorities.

The European Parliament also calls on EU member states to refrain from holding meetings with the ruling Georgian Dream party. The document further discusses sanctions against television broadcasters, including Imedi TV.

In addition, according to the resolution, the European Parliament calls on the Commission to establish a mechanism that would allow civil society activists, journalists and students to retain visa-free access to the European Union.