Georgian PM Kobakhidze describes Europarl's new resolution as assault on his country

TBILISI. Feb 13 (Interfax) - The European Parliament on Thursday passed a resolution on the situation in Georgia, in which it denounced the country's ruling party, Georgian Dream, for its anti-democratic policies.

The document referred to by Georgian media says that the self-appointed Georgian authorities are violating fundamental freedoms, basic human rights, and Georgia's core international obligations.

The resolution refers to Salome Zourabichvili as the legitimate president of Georgia and representative of the Georgian people. The European parliamentarians insisted that the current political and constitutional crisis in Georgia can be settled only by way of new parliamentary elections. The resolution calls for imposing sanctions on businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili, senior Georgian officials, and the leadership of Georgian Dream.

The European parliamentarians also demanded former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's immediate release.

Commenting on the European Parliament's resolution, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze told journalists that this was a sixth resolution on Georgia, which would have no effect.

"This resolution is an unmasked assault on the Georgian state," Kobakhidze said, adding that such resolutions deal a heavy blow to the reputation of European bureaucrats in Georgia.

Commenting on the European Parliament's proposal that Zourabichvili be treated as the only legitimate Georgian president, Kobakhidze said, "This call shows a tragic real situation in the European Union."

"Salome Zourabichvili is our country's burdensome past," Kobakhidze said.