Georgian PM slams European Parliament resolution as “shameful blackmail” of Georgian People

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday vehemently criticised a recently adopted European Parliament resolution, calling it “absolutely shameful” and a form of “blackmail” against the Georgian people.

In his remarks over the matter, Kobakhidze asserted that not only the European Parliament but the entire European bureaucracy should take responsibility for the resolution.

“This is yet another - I believe the seventh - absolutely disgraceful resolution by the European Parliament. I think responsibility for this should lie with the entire EU bureaucracy. This is not only a disgraceful action by the European Parliament - I think the entire European bureaucracy should take responsibility for it. It is deeply shameful to blackmail the Georgian people simply because they refused to bring back the collective United National Movement to power. Blackmailing the people of Georgia for this is simply disgraceful”, the PM said.

“These individuals must take responsibility - including for the fact that from 2004 to 2012, they gave the former Government a green light to commit grave crimes: torture, racketeering, media takeovers, and the handover of territories. The Saakashvili-led United National Movement regime had the full backing of the same bureaucrats and post-Soviet politicians who today speak in shameful language and adopt shameful resolutions”, Kobakhidze concluded.

The European Parliament on Wednesday adopted the resolution on Georgia. The resolution calls for the immediate release of Mikheil Saakashvili, the holding of new parliamentary elections, and the recognition of Salome Zourabichvili's legitimacy as President.