Georgia’s ruling party official slams European Parliament Georgia debate, says MEPs repeat ‘the same narratives’

Levan Machavariani, the First Deputy Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream parliamentary faction, on Thursday criticised the European Parliament debate on Georgia, saying it was “very regrettable” that MEPs continued to portray former President Mikheil Saakashvili as a political prisoner and question the possible disappearance of opposition parties from the political scene.

In his remarks, Machavariani said the “proxy opposition” had acted on instructions from others when it tore up its parliamentary mandates and refused to enter Parliament, thereby removing itself from the political process.

“Instead of showing us remorse over this, they accuse us of the opposition’s weakness. As for the decision concerning a ban, this is not a decision for us to make. The Constitutional Court should consider the matter, and it will be a public process. We have substantiated everything with facts and evidence”, he said.

The debate on Georgia in the European Parliament was held in an almost empty chamber, with the same narratives being repeated. Some MEPs again called for the release of Mikheil Saakashvili and opposition activists, while sanctions against the Georgian Government were also among the demands.