“No matter what ‘messengers of the devil’ the ‘Georgian Dream’ calls France, or however they describe those ‘kneeling before the deep state,’ they are reflecting reality. On the other hand, it is unserious to say that the Georgian opposition should appeal to the French Prosecutor’s Office. France’s law enforcement system is independent. We should allow French justice to follow its own path,” he said on PalitraNews’ program “Day Newsroom,” responding to a resolution adopted by the French National Assembly and a call by Nika Gvaramia, a leader of the “Coalition for Change,” to appeal to the French Prosecutor’s Office to prosecute Bidzina Ivanishvili for alleged international convention crimes.

As Datunashvili stated, the Georgian opposition’s task is to speak to citizens, and resolutions in France, Belgium, and Germany do not give the Georgian opposition additional leverage.

“Georgia, unfortunately, once again ended up in the spotlight of the National Assembly in a negative way, as an unreliable partner - a country where the political fabric has been completely degraded, where the rule of law has been trampled. Our friends reflected this in the resolution. The French National Assembly resolution is of a recommendatory nature. It is noteworthy that it was initiated from Macron’s political group.

It is difficult to say what impact it will have on future actions of the executive authorities. France has significant influence, including specifically on Bidzina Ivanishvili. The problem is not that Georgia is mentioned in resolutions - the problem is why it is mentioned.

Georgia appears in resolutions because it is under the influence of the Russian machine of evil. This means the violation of rights, it means a government that will do whatever it wants to the parents of children with Duchenne disease and ultimately will not provide their medicine. It means trampling the constitution, it means a person having no right to stand freely in the street.

This means living in evil, oligarchy, where people have no voice. The French National Assembly stood against this. No matter what ‘messengers of the devil’ the ‘Georgian Dream’ calls them or those ‘kneeling before the deep state,’ they reflect reality, because they are our friends, not enemies.

Regarding [the opposition alliance’s statement], I consider it an unserious approach to political processes to say that the Georgian opposition should appeal to the French Prosecutor’s Office. The Georgian opposition may ask its partners and friends for support. I wish my colleagues from the Alliance success, I do not criticize them. However, France’s law enforcement system does not operate this way - it does not react to political processes. It is independent. Let us allow French justice to follow its own path. I do not think this will produce results.

We should speak to citizens - that is the task of the Georgian opposition. Resolutions in France, Belgium, and Germany do not give the Georgian opposition additional leverage,” he said.

On the topic of the newly elected Patriarch and comments made during the inauguration as well as on the issue of pardoning detained citizens, Datunashvili added that in Georgia, “it is Bidzina Ivanishvili who decides who is released and who is pardoned.”

“Reconciliation is what the Church and the Gospel strive for - understanding each other, reconciliation, communication, and interaction through love. I do not want to burden Patriarch Shio III with something that is not his responsibility. The Catholicos-Patriarch does not decide on pardons; he can only mediate and advise. I can rely on statements previously made by the Patriarchate, which said they had made several appeals and the authorities did not listen.

In Georgia, it is Bidzina Ivanishvili who decides who is released and who is pardoned. I cannot say whether Ivanishvili will be influenced by the Church’s appeals. It should also be noted that Ivanishvili’s early departure from the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral during the enthronement ceremony says a lot - he left before the ceremony ended.

We clearly saw yesterday what kind of attitude ‘Georgian Dream’ has toward the Church. Ivanishvili left Svetitskhoveli early without waiting for the end of the enthronement,” Datunashvili said.

Regarding Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili’s statement that forgiveness must always be preceded by repentance, Datunashvili stated that Papuashvili is “the most unrestrained, dog-like figure in Ivanishvili’s court, who will say anything to please Ivanishvili.”

“I have no expectations of anything good. I do not expect Ivanishvili and ‘Georgian Dream’ to respect the Church in a way that would make them heed its requests,” he concluded.