Georgian Dream Leaders Condemn President Zourabichvili's Call to Impose Personal Sanctions based on International Sanctions Lists
By Liza Mchedlidze
Monday, May 22, 2023
In a recent press conference, Irakli Kobakhidze, Chairman of the Georgian Dream party, discussed the criteria for allowing people to enter the country. He emphasized that Georgia does not participate in imposing sanctions and that the customs service follows the law on occupation as their guiding principle.
Kobakhidze stated that when Georgia does not join sanctions, it includes personal sanctions as well. The country does not impose sanctions on the Russian Federation, as it goes against their clear position. He added that sanctioning family members is contrary to human rights standards, and personal sanctions should only apply to individuals who have directly committed specific criminal acts.
Responding to a question about President Salome Zourabichvili, Kobakhidze asserted that she does not have the right to speak on behalf of the Georgian people. He criticized the president for characterizing the disruption of a wedding as a victory for the Georgian people, labeling it a xenophobic campaign. He argued that it is unacceptable to disrupt the wedding of someone who has not committed a crime and that such actions are incompatible with Georgian culture.
"She said that the second day of the wedding failed and this is the victory of the Georgian people. First of all, Salome Zourabichvili has no right to speak on behalf of the Georgian people when it comes to any topic, for one simple reason - the people of this country have given the legitimacy of policy determination to the "Georgian Dream" government, parliament, and leadership.
"When the President initiates a xenophobic campaign and evaluates the disruption of the second day of the wedding as a victory for the people, it is simply shameful," said Kobakhidze.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the Georgian Dream , reiterated Kobakhidze's statements. He also clarified that Georgia has not imposed personal sanctions on anyone, including the family members of the Russian Foreign Minister. Mdinaradze highlighted that there is no database of sanctioned individuals in Georgia.
Mdinaradze mentioned that no state is exempt from making mistakes, but Georgia has a specific database for tracking violations of the law on occupation. If a person flagged in this database is confronted by a border guard, they will be denied entry into the country.
Mamuka Mdinaradze also accused President Zurabishvili of spreading lies and refuted the claim that Minister of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri promised to "postpone the wedding."
