Levan Bezhashvili, a member of the opposition United National Movement (UNM) party, said the statement of David Arakhamia, Chairman of the Servant of the People faction in the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada, regarding Georgia is the official stance of the government of Ukraine.

According to Levan Bezhashvili, everyone in Europe and the United States expects the Georgian government to change constitutionally and legally through parliamentary elections in 2024.

“The statement of Georgia’s friend David Arakhamia should be considered an official mindset of the Ukrainian government. Unfortunately, it refers to the Georgian state. This position clearly shows the side on which the Georgian Dream places Georgia. Due to security issues, when Western partners advise him not to arrive in Georgia, this demonstrates that the Georgian Dream represents the Russian Federation, and Ukrainian officials may face threats in Georgia.

When it comes to the demand for [Mtavari Arkhi Chief] Nika Gvaramia’s release, this statement echoes the statements of our Western partners, who link the release of Mikheil Saakashvili [former president] and Gvaramia to Georgia’s European perspective.

I believe if the Georgian Dream keeps on its policy, the Ukrainian authorities will directly raise the issue to sanction Bidzina Ivanishvili (GD founder) and other officials. And, I am sure, our international partners, both in Europe and the US, will share the idea.

This statement should not be considered an interference in Georgia’s domestic affairs. This is the official mindset, the position of our Western partners in many countries. Everyone, both in Europe and the United States, expects a constitutional and legal change in the Georgian government through parliamentary elections in 2024 because the Georgian Dream does not represent the Georgian people’s stance on Ukraine, European Perspective, and many other issues,” Bezhashvili said.

In an interview with Mtavari Arkhi, the UNM member also commented on David Arakhamia’s other statement, claiming that it was the Georgian people, not the Georgian government, who deserved candidate status.

“We have repeatedly heard from our Western partners, including on high levels, that Georgian people deserve candidate status. Unfortunately, Georgia has a government that does not take a single step for the fulfilment of the 12-point plan to receive the candidate status automatically, although the political environment is such that Georgia should get candidate status. Georgian people deserve candidate status,” he said.

David Arakhamia, the Chairman of the Servant of the People faction in the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada, said in a TV interview that he was sure the government would change after the elections in Georgia. He also noted that the Georgian government did not deserve the EU candidate status and the European future.