Davit Matikashvili: The radicals don’t just wish for visa-free travel to be suspended — they would gladly see a big bomb hit the country and wipe everyone out; They strongly desire that — but they will never get their bombs or the outcomes they hope for

“Our opponents and radicals not only want visa-free travel to be suspended, but they also have a great desire for a big bomb to hit the country and wipe out everything here—visa-free travel is an achievement of the Georgian people, protected by international agreements,” said Davit Matikashvili, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Procedural Issues and Rules, in a statement to journalists. He was responding to a question about the possibility that the suspension of visa-free travel and sanctions on judges might be discussed at the European Council’s meeting of EU foreign ministers on July 15.

According to Matikashvili, “representatives of the radical opposition will achieve neither bombs over our country nor the results they desire.”

“Our opponents and radicals not only want visa-free travel to be suspended, but they also have a great desire for a big bomb to hit the country and wipe out everything here. What can you say to people whose only unifying factor is hatred for their own country and people? They will achieve neither bombs over our country—thank God for that—nor the results they want. Visa-free travel, as well as all aspects of European integration, is an achievement of the Georgian people, protected by international agreements. If the European Union violates international agreements, disregards them, makes a political decision, and punishes the Georgian people, well, what can I say about such a decision?” Matikashvili stated.

Regarding the question about sanctions on judges, Matikashvili said that a special operation against Georgian judges could not be carried out.

“This is not the first attempt to exert pressure on judges. We remember a specific case when a judge was summoned by the U.S. Embassy and asked to report on a case, which was later clearly shown in the Strasbourg Court to have been rightfully decided by the Georgian court. It would be good if everyone realizes this, looks the truth in the eye, respects the sovereignty of countries appropriately, and puts an end to completely baseless actions aimed at futile results. The special operation against Georgian judges could not be carried out. You remember there was also an attempt with vetting, how they tried to impose a situation unacceptable for any decent democratic country on our nation,” the deputy noted.