The Chair of the delegation to the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee Marina Kaljurand (S&D, EE) said on Friday that Georgia deserves stability and smoothly functioning institutions.

As MEP Kaljurand told the Accent “any call to repeat elections are not justified” and the opposition should take up their seats in parliament.

“We are very concerned by the political and media polarization and by the public’s distrust in institutions including parliament and the judiciary. This polarization and distrust make the rounds of dialogue between the ruling party and opposition even more difficult. In this context, we call again on the opposition to come to their senses, take up their seats in parliament and avoid any radical or provocative statements that could ignite this explosive situation. Any call to repeat elections, while the 2020 elections were already assessed as free, fair and well organized overall by the international community, are not justified. Georgia deserves stability and smoothly functioning institutions, with a parliament able to exercise its scrutiny over government and over the implementation of the 4th wave of judicial reform aimed at strengthening the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law,” Kaljurand said.

On February 18 Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia resigned citing disagreement with his party colleagues over the detention of Nika Melia, leader of the United National Movement. This follows the Tbilisi City Court’s decision to send Nika Melia, Chairperson of the largest opposition party, to pretrial detention. The Georgian Dream party already named former PM and incumbent Defense Minister Irakli Garibashvili, as PM candidate.

The opposition refuses to recognize “fraud” October 2020 general election results, boycotts the new parliament and calls for the new elections.