Levan Lortkipanidze: The government cannot even grow beans here, yet mocks Poland, a country with a trillion-dollar economy - Georgian Dream is one thing and the Georgian people are another - There is a huge divide between them - people think a hundred times before posting anything on Facebook so that Papuashvili does not have them arrested

“I am deeply astonished by the dismissive attitude of Georgian Dream representatives toward Eastern and Central European countries. Today, they spoke about Poland in such a contemptuous manner... They have grown accustomed to speaking disrespectfully about Germany and France, but Poland, which was once part of the communist bloc, is now a country with a trillion-dollar economy,” political analyst Levan Lortkipanidze, one of the founders of the Movement for Social Democracy, said on PalitraNews’ programme Resume, commenting on the rhetoric of Georgian Dream leaders.

Lortkipanidze also discussed the European Commission’s report, describing it as an objective assessment that reflects how far Georgia has fallen behind democratic standards.

“Nothing new has been revealed over the past two days. What we already knew has once again been confirmed: the Georgian government does not want relations with the European Union. The Georgian government is trying to isolate itself from the EU and is looking for reasons to attack both the EU and its representatives, personally and institutionally.

What we have also witnessed is Georgian Dream’s feeble attempt to equate the Georgian people with the Georgian government. Georgian Dream is one thing, and the Georgian people are another. There is a huge divide between them. Therefore, when the European Union criticizes the Georgian government, it is criticizing the government of Georgia and Georgian Dream, not the Georgian people.

We, the citizens of Georgia, are saying exactly what the European Union is saying. The report states that democratic standards and the rule of law have deteriorated in the country. Have they not? Aren't political parties being banned? Can't you see that the law is applied differently to us and to Georgian Dream supporters? Don't you know that free elections have not been held in Georgia?

I am addressing public servants: Were you not subjected to pressure? Were employees of public institutions not instructed to vote for Georgian Dream? Were you not brought out to attend Georgian Dream rallies? What exactly is false about this?

Is it false that the judiciary is dysfunctional and staffed by old personnel, with judges who served the previous regime now largely serving the new one?

The report states that civil society is under repression. Is it not? Have they not shut down all non-governmental organizations? Is there no corruption in the country? Is freedom of expression not under threat in our society? People think a hundred times before writing anything on Facebook so that Shalva Papuashvili does not have them arrested afterwards.

Is the media not polarized in this country? Do we share the EU's foreign policy and follow its path? This is an objective report assessing how far Georgia has fallen behind democratic standards and how it is moving toward authoritarianism.

I am deeply astonished by the contemptuous attitude of Georgian Dream representatives toward Eastern and Central European countries. Today, they spoke about Poland in such a dismissive manner... They have grown accustomed to speaking disrespectfully about Germany and France, but Poland, which was once part of the communist bloc, is now a country with a trillion-dollar economy. It is among the 20 countries in the world with trillion-dollar economies. It produces practically everything domestically.

And yet these people [the government], who cannot even grow beans or plant potatoes here and have to import beans from Uzbekistan, are mocking Poland.

So, once again, let us shake off our complacency and open our eyes wide. Let us recognize the many shortcomings of the European Union, but also acknowledge how far behind we are in relation to EU democratic and economic standards. We must not allow Georgian Dream's propaganda to prevail,” Lortkipanidze stated.