Kakha Kaladze on ALDE’s letter: It will have zero effect! It’s worthless, as you know

“The new package of sanctions will have zero effect! It’s worthless, as you know, isn’t it?” Kakha Kaladze, Secretary-General of the “Georgian Dream” party and Mayor of Tbilisi, said in response to a call by the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE Party) urging the European Union to impose targeted sanctions on individuals responsible for repression and undermining democracy in Georgia.

According to Kaladze, what matters to the “Georgian Dream” government is pursuing a policy that “first and foremost protects the interests of the Georgian people and our country.”

“[The new package of sanctions] will have zero effect! It’s worthless, as you know, isn’t it? When you have an unfair attitude toward specific countries and governments with the aim of bringing your own agents to power there, believe me, they have zero chance. It cannot have any effect whatsoever. What matters to us is to pursue a policy that first and foremost protects the interests of the Georgian people and our country - that is what matters,” Kakha Kaladze said.

For reference, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE Party) is calling on the European Union to impose targeted sanctions on individuals responsible for repression and undermining democracy in Georgia. ALDE President Svenja Hahn and President of the European Liberal Forum Jan-Christoph Oetjen addressed a letter to Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Marta Kos, the European Commissioner for Enlargement.

“We are writing to you regarding the rapid deterioration of the democratic situation in Georgia, specifically the forced decision by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) to close its office in Tbilisi, which had operated in the country for more than two decades. FNF was forced to terminate its activities in Georgia after the Georgian authorities rejected its grant application. The authorities made it clear that FNF’s activities would only be permitted if they aligned with the government’s priorities. Under these circumstances, FNF concluded that, as an independent political foundation, it would no longer be able to fulfill its mission,” the letter states.