European parliamentarian warns Georgia over demands for obtaining EU candidacy status

A member of the European Parliament (MEP), former Prime Minister of Lithuania Andrius Kubilius has advised the Georgian authorities to "play by their rules" if Tbilisi wants to get the status of an EU candidate.

Kubilius clearly intertwined Georgia's obtaining the status of an EU candidate with the release of ex-President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili

“We have a message for the Georgian Dream [Party], if they continue this attitude towards Saakashvili’s situation, it is clear to us that the Georgian government is not implementing the recommendations… if this attitude continues, it will affect Georgia’s European status,” he said on air of the Georgia-based Mtavari Arkhi TV channel on February 14, Caliber.Az reports.

The MEP stressed that there are serious human rights problems in Hungary, because of which this country will not receive the requested financial assistance, the same is also seen in the case of Georgia - if the country does not fulfil the requirements, it will not receive the status.

“Here we say very clearly that you will not get the status if you do not play by our rules,” said Kubilius.

The European Parliament on February 15 will vote for a resolution on Georgia related to the state of health of Mikheil Saakashvili. The Parliament demands the Georgian authorities to show humanity and allow Mikheil Saakashvili to be treated abroad.