Cheishvili: EU and ALDE Are Blackmailing Constitutional Court Judges

Georgian Dream MP Irakli Cheishvili said that the EU and ALDE are blackmailing judges of the Constitutional Court. According to him, this is an unprecedented story, a double standard and wrong rhetoric towards Georgia, which must necessarily change. Cheishvili responded to the statement issued by ALDE.

According to Cheishvili, in Europe attempts to ban the opposition are met calmly, while in Georgia's case they act with a double standard and blackmail the court.

"This is a double standard and a wrong approach. While the German government is trying to ban the main opposition party in Germany, the EU, ALDE and similar parties and politicians do not come out and do not make such statements. Somehow, in the heart of Europe, which is known as a beacon of democracy, such a decision may be considered lawful, but when the Georgian government makes a similar decision, no. Unlike their opposition parties, we all know well what the National Movement did and what it was doing, they put the Georgian government under fire of criticism, adopt resolution after resolution and meet it with sanctions. I will tell you even more, they threaten and blackmail the judges of the Constitutional Court. A court process is ongoing, and today such high-ranking officials and party leaders come out and set similar demands. So sanctions mean that they are blackmailing the judges with this. Pressure on an independent, fair court in an independent Georgia is exactly this, it is an unprecedented story. The double approach and wrong rhetoric regarding Georgia is alarming, and the EU must necessarily change this," said Cheishvili.

In a statement published on October 28, ALDE says that banning opposition parties will further restrict democratic competition in the country. The organization demands that the process of banning parties be stopped and that the EU toughen personal sanctions against individuals responsible for carrying out political repression in Georgia.