About opposition

On November 17, Irakli Kobakhidze, the chair of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD), commented on an opposition's simple strategy that had been exposed so that everyone could know what purpose Kezerashvili, Khoshtaria, and their allies are serving in Georgia. Kobakhidze said, "This is a pretty clever plan. Then Khoshtaria, who is hired by Kezerashvili, gives a briefing on this ship and implies that this is how sanctioned items enter Georgia. A ship connected to Kezerashvili reaches Batumi Port." According to the GD Chair, the opposition attempts to portray Georgia as a guarantee that Russia can avoid international sanctions. "The purpose of everything is clear. In reality, Kezerashvili was behind everything, despite their attempts to portray Georgia as assisting Russia in evading sanctions," Irakli Kobakhidze stated.

On Bidzina Ivanishvili

On November 18, Irakli Kobakhidze told journalists that they did not know Ivanishvili [former Prime Minister of Georgia] and did not realize that he could not be intimidated through either informal or formal blackmail. In response to the European People's Party's (EPP) draft resolution, Kobakhidze pointed out that Ivanishvili already faces informal sanctions but that it would be preferable to impose formal ones since the public would be able to understand their purpose better. According to Irakli Kobakhidze, Ivanishvili is allegedly being blackmailed into joining politics again to create a new front. "Such documents are not interesting for the public; when such unfair statements are made, the public sees and assesses everything. As for the sanctions against Ivanishvili, they keep using this topic; in fact, Bidzina Ivanishvili herself explained that she had been subjected to informal sanctions; hundreds of millions of dollars have been frozen, which are located in a Swiss bank; and informal sanctions have already been imposed. It might be better to formalize these informal sanctions on the part of these people trying to blackmail Bidzina Ivanishvili for a specific purpose. I believe it is better if they come out as men and say they are imposing sanctions. Society will be able to assess better what is behind these sanctions and the purpose of blackmail, what is being asked of Ivanishvili, and why he is being asked to return to politics. They are trying to blackmail him to get him back into politics - to do something against his will, as he hinted to the public when he published the famous letter. "It is better to come out with formal sanctions than informal sanctions," Kobakhidze added. 

He also commented on the fact that the United National Movement is a member of the political family of the EPP and stated that this is against the values on which the European Union should stand. "The National Movement is a member of the EPP, and when a member of a European party and political family is involved in a criminal association, it is disturbing. This applies to both the National Movement and European Georgia. The criminal party is a member of the EPP, which is worrying. It directly contradicts the values on which the European Union should stand," Kobakhidze emphasized.

Read also:

Irakli Kobakhidze on David Lee's remarks, MEPs' Address on Saakashvili and IRI Survey

Irakli Kobakhidze Condemns Georgian Public Defender

Irakli Kobakhidze: "Georgian Dream is Actively Working to Fulfill EU's 12 Recommendations"