Georgian Dream: No threats or blackmail, no sanctions or statements can force the Georgian Dream government to plunge Georgia into the flames of war

The Georgian Dream political council has issued a statement on the 13th anniversary of the party's establishment.

According to them, on April 21, 2012, Bidzina Ivanishvili created a political union and, in the most difficult period, at the risk of his own and family lives, declared a decisive battle against the bloody dictatorship established in the country.

The party's statement notes that after the "victory over the regime", under the Georgian Dream, Georgia firmly established the principles of democracy and the rule of law, basic human rights and freedoms, and set itself on the rails of irreversible development.

The statement notes that no threats or blackmail, no sanctions or statements can force the Georgian Dream government to plunge Georgia into the flames of war.

As the statement states, Georgia is independent and sovereign today as never before - "no one can dictate to the government and force it to take steps" that would be directed against the country's interests.

"Today marks 13 years since the founding of the Georgian Dream. On April 21, 2012, Bidzina Ivanishvili created a political union and, in the most difficult period, at the risk of his own and his family's lives, declared a decisive battle against the bloody dictatorship established in the country. After the victory over the regime, under the conditions of the Georgian Dream, Georgia firmly established the principles of democracy and the rule of law, basic human rights and freedoms, and set itself on the rails of irreversible development.

The Georgian Dream government is the first government of Georgia since the restoration of independence, under which the country has not had a war. In addition, the Georgian Dream has maintained uninterrupted peace in the most difficult geopolitical situation. In this regard, the past 3 years have been especially difficult, when Georgia was in direct danger of becoming a second front. However, despite the most severe pressure and blackmail, the government has coped with this challenge with dignity and is coping with it, and society sees that no threats or blackmail, no sanctions or statements can force the Georgian Dream government to plunge Georgia into the flames of war, which would bring destruction to our country.

In 2012, a 9-year period of severe democratic regression was replaced by continuous democratic progress. On October 1, 2012, the Georgian Dream government left behind the most severe authoritarian regime, undemocratic constitution, election fraud, torture and inhuman treatment of people, business racketeering, monopolized media, a judiciary subject to political control, and many other vices. Today, human rights are protected in Georgia, the country has a democratic constitution, fair elections are held, torture and inhuman treatment of people have been eliminated, business is freer than ever, the independence of the judiciary is protected, and media pluralism is ensured.

Georgia has embarked on the right path of economic development. After 2012, the Georgian economy had to deal with two global and regional economic crises. However, with the establishment of real economic freedom, the suppression of business racketeering and the right economic policy, Georgia has successfully overcome difficulties and tripled the country's economy. Over the past 4 years, the Georgian economy has been growing by an average of 9.7 percent, which is the best indicator in the region and Europe. Already this year, the Georgian economy will exceed $ 10,000 per capita, and according to the International Monetary Fund's forecast, by 2030 it will reach $ 13,500 and Georgia will be among high-income countries. The GEL exchange rate is reliably stable, the country's external debt has decreased from 60 to 36.4 percent. According to the World Bank, since 2012, the poverty rate in Georgia has decreased threefold and about 700,000 people have overcome poverty.

Since 2012, the state's approach to social policy has fundamentally changed. A universal healthcare program was introduced, social assistance packages for the socially vulnerable population were significantly expanded, and the practice of distributing social assistance based on political interests was eliminated.

Georgia achieved all tangible progress on the path to European integration precisely under the Georgian Dream government. It was after 2012 that the country signed the Association Agreement and the Free Trade Agreement and received a visa-free regime. We also gained candidate status through struggle, which was considered by Georgia’s ill-wishers and the European bureaucracy acting at their behest as an instrument of blackmail against Georgia. Despite the fact that the European bureaucracy is still busy blackmailing Georgia and trying to return undemocratic forces to power, we promise the public that our political team will cope with all challenges with dignity and that Georgia will meet the announced EU enlargement by 2030 better prepared than all candidate countries. We hope that by then, the current bureaucracy in Brussels will also be replaced by a political elite that is worthy, independent and focused on the future of the European Union and Europe.

Georgia is independent and sovereign today as never before. No one can dictate to the government and force it to take steps that are against the interests of our country. The Georgian Dream government acts according to the dictates of Georgia’s national interests and will never compromise on these interests, and will continue to unwaveringly defend the homeland, the Church and national values!,” reads the statement.