Irakli Pavlenishvili: We should expect increasingly critical statements at every gathering—be it the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, or any other body; when you establish a dictatorship in the country, you become a target for sanctions
"As long as Ivanishvili’s regime remains in power, such negative assessments will continue. It is deeply regrettable that at every such gathering—be it the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, or any other institution—we find ourselves anticipating increasingly critical and alarming statements," said Irakli Pavlenishvili, Chairman of the Governing Council of the United National Movement, commenting on the latest European Parliament resolution regarding Georgia.
Pavlenishvili also commented on the European Parliament's call to sanction Georgian Dream Honorary Chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, and Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, noting that Europe has its own norms and procedures; when a country establishes a dictatorship and adopts repressive legislation, it becomes a target for sanctions.
According to him, the public had been warned that Ivanishvili’s actions were dangerous for the country and would lead to sanctions against those involved, subsequently contributing to the country's isolation.
"We are concerned about the sanctioning of these individuals because sanctioning so many people without dismantling the system and further deepening isolation threatens to plunge Georgia and the Georgian people into total isolation; that is the danger. Otherwise, it is understandable that sanctioning specific individuals who have caused great harm to this country would not be quite so alarming," stated Irakli.
The European Parliament has adopted another resolution regarding Georgia. In the resolution, Members of the European Parliament once again call for the imposition of targeted sanctions and visa bans on those responsible for democratic backsliding, violent repressions, and political persecution—specifically Bidzina Ivanishvili, Irakli Kobakhidze, Shalva Papuashvili, and Kakha Kaladze.
