2020-07-10
"Nothing threatens Georgia's democratization or fight against corruption, or any other direction critically important to our country, is in nowise under threat," Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia told the press in response to a question about the US House Committee on Appropriations passing the bill discussing the terms of financial assistance to Georgia.
According to the Head of Government, at this point, it is just a bill passing through various committees. Of course, there is nothing good about it, but the points listed therein show that Georgia is progressing on a daily basis.
"And our colleagues are well aware of that. With just a few months before the elections, domestic political tensions, unfortunately, seem to have spilled over abroad. As you know, there have been many cases like this. I remember the exact same type of interpretation in relation to the constitutional amendments and the electoral system. But we all remember that, after the amendments were adopted, our international partners' assessments were excellent. They clearly saw the progress of Georgian democracy. Of course, we have elections ahead, and we must make sure that these elections are democratic, open, and competitive, and we will do it, of course," Giorgi Gakharia stated.
The Prime Minister emphasized that international partners are Georgia's closest strategic allies and friends.
""We appreciate and listen to what they have to say, much the way it was in relation to the electoral system. It is a process. But, sadly, this process, because of some of our wannabe politicians, involves attempts to engage our international partners in domestic political clashes, which is ultimately detrimental to the country, not to one political force or another. That is why we all must calm down. We all must understand that exemplary elections are our common goal, something we must ensure together, regardless of us being the opposition or the ruling party. We must join forces to hold exemplary democratic elections, and that is the most important goal," the Head of Government underlined.
In response to journalists' question about the foregoing possibly being a signal for Georgian Dream, Giorgi Gakharia pointed out that Georgian Dream takes in signals reflected in the assessments of the development of Georgian democracy voiced in the course of recent years on various international platforms.
"These things happen. And we must double our communication and attention to the developments in the domestic political context. In a word, it is an attempt in the campaign season to engage our international partners in the domestic political context, which we understand. But the main goal today is not to complain vociferously about a legislative initiative. No, we must listen to it, and then continue our democratization process, just the way we have been doing so far. I can assure you that nothing threatens Georgia's democratization or fight against corruption, or any other direction critically important to our country, such as Georgia's Euro-Atlantic integration, which is in nowise under threat. And that is the most important thing today," the Prime Minister emphasized.
The Head of Government also answered journalists' questions about the investigation into the murder case of footballer Giorgi Shakarashvili. According to Giorgi Gakharia, what is happening now is speculations, taking advantage of a tragedy to advance political goals, and that is categorically unacceptable, immoral, and deprived of any value. Everyone must support the process of investigation and make assessments only after its completion, he added.
""Unfortunately, tragic events in our everyday lives are often politicized. An investigation is underway, and the main task of the state, notably of its investigative bodies, is to answer all questions and leave no question marks as fast as possible. Accordingly, if I have a question, I ask my colleagues, and it is not my place to make these questions public until the investigation is completed. Now everyone must support the process of investigation and make assessments only after its completion. But what is happening now is speculations, taking advantage of a tragedy to advance political goals, and that is categorically unacceptable, immoral, and deprived of any value," Giorgi Gakharia emphasized.
In response to a question if he personally has any questions to the law enforcements, the Prime Minister emphasized that the Prosecutor's Office is the agency in charge if one law enforcer or another, or a person involved in the process of investigation, has broken the law in any way or failed to fulfil his duties.
"Importantly, the investigation must be completed, and perpetrators must be punished. The inevitability of punishment is the key principle that must be upheld in this case included. And the Prosecutor's Office is the agency in charge if one law enforcer or another, or a person involved in the process of investigation, has broken the law in any way or failed to fulfil his duties. It is the job of the Prosecutor's Office to launch new investigations into said offenses, and it cannot become a subject of rumors," Giorgi Gakharia said.
The Head of Government also answered a question whether or not work on the electoral list has commenced, and whether or not he will be the number one candidate on the ruling party's list.
According to the Prime Minister, the key task is to minimize any discomfort to each family, each citizen, and to hold peaceful, orderly, and democratic elections amid the pandemic and recession.
"I have said it before, and I will repeat that I may be at the bottom of the list, but it does not matter to me where on the list I am, honestly. The Government's key task is related to the pandemic, to be maximally effective in controlling risks to the health of each of our citizens. The second equally important task is post-pandemic economic recovery, because our epidemiological crisis has transformed into an economic crisis, and our task is to minimize any discomfort to each family, each citizen, and to hold peaceful, orderly, and democratic elections amid the pandemic and recession," Giorgi Gakharia said.
According to the Prime Minister, the Government is fighting on several fronts at the same time, and it is no time to ask who will be at the top of the list.
"I have always said that we are fighting on two fronts, but now we seem to have a third one. Given all that, I or any member of the Cabinet does not have time to discuss and debate who will be at the top of the list, and who will be second. It does not matter. Or, which party will collect the most voices, even that may become irrelevant. What matters is for everyone in this country-the opposition, the ruling party, the authorities, and civil society alike-to hold exemplary elections. That is the task number one today. That is the key to put an end to speculations proposed by some wannabe politicians," Gakharia said.
Journalists asked the Prime Minister if it is possible for Georgian Dream's Chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili be on the electoral list.
"Of course! Bidzina Ivanishvili is the Founder and Chairman of Georgian Dream," the Prime Minister replied.
In response to a question about expected dates for the adoption of the package of environmental legislative amendments, Giorgi Gakharia replied that the Government gives priority to environmental issues, and everything will be done to ensure that Parliament adopts this bill promptly.
"Environmental issues are one of the top priorities for the Government, which is why this issue was raised at yesterday's Cabinet meeting. We will do our best to ensure that Parliament adopts this bill as soon as possible," Giorgi Gakharia underlined.
In response to a question about draft amendments to the Law on Electronic Communications, the Prime Minister replied that they pose no threat to the media whatsoever, and that legislative initiative emphasizes that it does not apply to the media.
"It is another in a series of lies. There is nothing threatening the media. The legislative initiative emphasizes that it does not apply to the media. Importantly, the lawless chaos in the country must end. The country has infrastructure of critical importance, and the responsibility for it is shared by owners and the state alike. Consequently, we must pay due attention to this and similar directions until we have a genuine framework for managing infrastructure of critical importance," Gakharia said.
In response to journalists' question about his personal take on the recent statements on this issue by NGOs and thee opposition, Giorgi Gakharia replied that their assessments are absolutely unfounded.
Press Service of the Government Administration