Georgia’s ruling party Sec Gen says EU visa liberalisation possible suspension “attempt” to punish Georgian people

Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday assessed the possible cancellation of visa liberalisation with the European Union as an attempt to punish the Georgian people.

In his remarks, Kaladze noted that all statements that the European Union cared about the Georgian people were false.

“This is simply an attempt to punish the Georgian people. Don't think they have any good interest in Georgia. The statements we hear are absolutely all false. As if they are crazy about Georgia and care about the Georgian people. Don't believe it, friends. This is a very big lie”, Kaladze said.

“If they were really true friends, then they would not have called on us to join the [Russian] sanctions, they would not have adopted resolutions on this, and there would not have been blackmail in the cabinets of the Prime Minister and the [ruling] party Chair regarding the opening of a second front”, he continued.

He further stressed that big states had their own interests and Georgia should continue its pragmatic policy that the ruling Georgian Dream party had in order not to give anyone the opportunity to use Georgia for big countries' interests.

Brussels has demanded that Georgia repeal the laws on transparency and the protection of family values, threatening to suspend visa liberalisation if it does not comply. The deadline for fulfilling the conditions set by the European Union expires on August 31.