**EU Sanctions Delayed: Georgian Opposition Leader Speaks Out**
Aleko Elisashvili, a leader of the opposition party “Lelo – Strong Georgia,” has expressed frustration with the European Union’s delay in imposing sanctions on Georgia’s ruling party, “Georgian Dream.” In an interview on PalitraNews’s program “360 Degrees,” Elisashvili called for stronger measures to be taken against the government.
According to Elisashvili, the EU’s current approach is too passive and allows Russia to exploit loopholes in the system. He advocates for sanctions similar to those on the Magnitsky List, which would include asset seizures and other financial penalties. This, he believes, would be a more effective way to hold “Georgian Dream” leaders accountable.
**Lack of Unity in Salome Zurabishvili’s Statement**
Elisashvili also commented on a recent statement by Georgia’s fifth president, Salome Zurabishvili, regarding plans for unity. While Elisashvili agrees with the need for unity, he feels that Zurabishvili’s statement lacked concrete steps and action plans.
“I couldn’t see a plan; it lacked steps for action,” Elisashvili said. “I really want to meet with Salome Zurabishvili and talk to her. She has the right position, but I don’t see a plan or steps for how to achieve unity.”
**Compromise Offered on Local Government Elections**
Regarding the upcoming local government elections, Elisashvili revealed that his party had offered a compromise to other opposition parties advocating for a boycott. The compromise included proposing a boycott in 63 out of Georgia’s 64 municipalities, while fighting in Tbilisi and six major cities where the opposition is strong.
However, Elisashvili claims that this proposal was met with resistance from some opposition leaders, who instead called for a complete boycott and threatened hunger strikes if their demands were not met. “We’re saying something very simple to those who are cursing and spitting: we genuinely want to defeat this government, but we see inaction in a boycott,” Elisashvili noted.
**Potential Cooperation with Giorgi Gakharia’s Party**
When asked about potential cooperation with Giorgi Gakharia’s party before the elections, Elisashvili revealed that his party is intensively discussing cooperation and aligning their positions as much as possible. “I’m not criticizing Giorgi Gakharia for going abroad,” he said. “It was a pragmatic and very correct decision… It’s better for Gakharia to be abroad, and he will play a significant role in the common cause.”
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