Georgian Parliament official accuses European Commission spokesperson of gross interference in country’s internal affairs, attempt to exert pressure on judiciary

Irakli Kadagishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Regional Policy and Self-Government Committee, on Monday criticised European Commission spokesperson Christian Wigand for gross interference in the country’s internal affairs and an attempt to exert pressure on the judiciary.

Kadagishvili was responding to remarks by a European Commission spokesperson, who said that the European Union was closely monitoring the ruling team’s lawsuit on banning major political parties in Georgia.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Kadagishvili noted that the European Commission's goal was to tarnish the justice system in the country.

“What the European Commission spokesperson is stating amounts to gross interference in the affairs of another country and an attempt to exert pressure on the judiciary, which are outrageous and unacceptable. Their intention is to tarnish the reputation of the judicial system [in the country”, the official said.

“Brussels is in a very dire state. The political blindness they have demonstrated regarding Georgia has reduced Georgia-EU relations to the lowest possible level. What could they possibly do next? Should they move on to punishing the people? Will they tell the public that they are going to take away the one small achievement gained over all this time, the ability to travel visa-free?”, he continued.

Kadagishvili added that the European Union had itself limited the arsenal for relationships with Georgia.

“Throughout these years, ever since the issue of candidate status arose, we have not heard a single positive sentiment. Everything was driven by a single political objective, to bring to power the very party that would carry out all of their instructions”, he concluded.