Georgia’s ruling party official alleges EU visa liberalisation used as “trump card” for internal strife

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday “frightening messages” concerning visa liberalisation with the EU were being used as a primary tactic to incite internal unrest and pressure Georgian citizens.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Mdinaradze noted that once it became clear that Georgia would “under no circumstances” engage in war, the focus shifted to changing the Georgian Government.

He recalled a “mocking campaign” against those who genuinely care for their homeland. While that specific campaign may no longer be prominent, Mdinaradze asserted that activating the topic of war involvement in Georgia was “vitally important” for those who “do not think about their country” and their “foreign clients”.

“And I’ll explain why: we see the situation around us - Syria, Iran, Ukraine - I won’t go into detail. Georgia is surrounded by a ring of fire. Everyone is now convinced that this Government will not drag the country into war. We are no longer being pressured behind the scenes as we were in previous years”, the official said.

“But since the Georgian Government does not serve these “global interests” - to act as a lifeline by engaging in war - they see regime change as the only way forward. If they install people who follow instructions at the snap of a finger, only then can they hope to get what they want”, he continued.

Mdinaradze further argued that the radical opposition and their foreign sponsors were building a political agenda based on blackmail related to visa liberalisation.

“Their last remaining method is to stir internal unrest and influence our people through fear linked to visa liberalisation. Blackmail only works as long as it remains blackmail - if you make a decision and move past it, the leverage is lost. Therefore, it’s more likely they won’t go through with it, but attempts may still be made”, he pointed out.

The official further mentioned that they had information from inside the country that such planning was underway.

“Decisions may be timed around early to mid-September. Our opponents - these so-called “Georgians” - are working toward this and dreaming of it”, he noted.

“So, the last path for them is to coerce Georgian citizens into removing their own Government and bringing in one that will engage in war. That’s their final hope. But we will overcome this too, and in the end, everyone will understand that without us - the Georgian people and their elected Government - no manipulation will succeed”, Mdinaradze concluded.