Tbilisi Mayor: Georgia not to exchange Saakashvili for EU candidate status

The Georgian authorities will not release convicted ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili in exchange for granting the country candidate status for joining the European Union.

This was stated by the Secretary General of the ruling party "Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia", Mayor of Tbilisi Kakha Kaladze, Sputnik Georgia reports.

“Why then was it necessary to present a plan of 12 points? Why then carry it out at all if we question the granting of status because of a specific criminal case?!” asked Kaladze.

According to him, “if this is the attitude, then let them leave this status that gives nothing to themselves.”

Earlier, MEP Raphael Glucksmann said that Georgia should release Saakashvili. According to him, the Georgian authorities are responsible if something happens to the ex-president in custody.

“In that case, forget everything you can get from Europe,” he said.

On December 14, former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili announced a hunger strike after the penitentiary service of the Georgian Justice Ministry refused to give him the opportunity to participate in a remote court session.