Salome Samadashvili is a Georgian MP, deputy chair of the Lelo Partnership for Georgia faction and former head of Georgia’s Mission to the European Union.
Earlier this week, the 36-year-old journalist and cameraman Lekso Lashkarava was sent off on his final journey amid loud applause and the tearful eyes of family, colleagues, friends and hundreds of Georgian citizens.
He was one of 53 media representatives journalists, cameramen and photographers assaulted by violent mobs from ultra-conservative groups with close ties to Russia, during an anti-pride event the week before. Shielding his female colleague from the mob, Lekso was brutally beaten up, his bones broken.
FISHY MONDAY: Agriculture (and/or fishery) ministers meet today and should still be very enthusiastic after reaching a political agreement on the Common Agricultural Policy. They’ll also welcome a Commission plan to boost organic farming by the end of the decade, according to their own planned conclusions, which are available here.
Also happening today: European Council chief Charles Michel will attend the Batumi International Conference organized by the Georgian government. Ahead of the visit, Georgian MP Salome Samadashvili, a former head of Georgia’s mission to the EU, argues in this opinion piece that Michael has unfinished work in the country, and must stand up for the power-sharing agreement that bears his name.
13 May in 13:20
Salome Samadashvili from the United National Movement opposition party, Armaz Akhvlediani and Shavla Shavgulidze who appeared in the 10th convocation of the state legislature through the European Georgia opposition party list, have joined the Lelo opposition party faction in Georgia s parliament.
Neither the United National Movement, nor European Georgia have entered the state legislature so far, unlike other opposition parties who have signed the EU-mediated agreement and took up their mandates after a several-month political tension in Georgia.
The name of the faction is Lelo - Partnership for Georgia, Agenda.ge reported.
Samadashvili said that Georgian opposition parties should do their utmost to win this year’s municipal elections.
Against this backdrop of political turbulence, the Georgian Dream government announced it would present an application for EU membership in 2024. Just when it was undermining core democratic norms, the party raised the stakes in its long quest to get the EU to offer a membership perspective. Most in the EU saw the timing of this move as unfortunate. The announcement seemed lacking in seriousness and did little to improve the government’s standing in Brussels. For several years Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine have been working together to push the EU to grant an “upgraded” status within the EaP. Now Georgia has broken ranks, and the lack of partners on this defiant path is likely to weaken its already slim chances of attaining a membership perspective.
President Zurabishvili to discuss proposed amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences with opposition bloc members
By Veronika Malinboym
Friday, May 7
Earlier yesterday, it was announced that President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili will be meeting members of the countrys opposition bloc in order to discuss the proposed amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences. The president has already met several opposition politicians including one of the co-founders of the opposition Girchi party Iago Kvichia and representatives of the Citizens party, and she is going to hear the opinion of the other opposition parties on the matter, including Strategy Agmashenebelis leader Giorgi Vashadze and Salome Samadashvili.