Georgian PM sacks pro-Western defence minister / Georgian PM reassures EU, NATO of his country’s orientation

Georgian Prime Minister Irakly Garibashvili dismissed his defence minister Irakly Alasania on 4 November 2014, hours after he criticised the arrests of several officials in his ministry as politically-motivated and aimed at those who favour better relations with the West.

Following this development, Foreign Minister Maya Panjikidze also presented her resignation, and one of the six parties in the ruling coalition pulled out, depriving it of a parliamentary majority.

Giga Bokeria, of the Georgian opposition United National Movement (UNM), warned in the European Parliament on 13 November 2014 that intensifying political persecution in his country was favouring Russia.

Mr Garibashvili, for his part, told the European Union and NATO on 17 November that his country remained firmly committed to integration with both organisations.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Georgia's prime minister lays out European 'dream' http://www.europeansources.info/record/georgias-prime-minister-lays-out-european-dream/

The Moscow Times, 05.11.14: Georgia's Western-Leaning Defense Minister Maya Panjikidze Resigns http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/georgia-s-western-leaning-defense-minister-maya-panjikidze-resigns-/510650.html

RIA Novosti, 05.11.14: Georgian Foreign Minister Panjikidze Announces Resignation http://en.ria.ru/world/20141105/195141319/Georgian-Foreign-Minister-Panjikidze-Announces-Resignation.html

Bloomberg, 04.11.14: Georgia's Premier Fires Defense Minister in Arrests Row http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-04/georgia-s-premier-fires-defense-minister-in-arrests-row.html

EurActiv, 06.11.14: Georgian coalition rocked by defections http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/georgia-coalition-rocked-defections-309809

Euronews, 05.11.14: Georgia: Free Democrats leave ruling coalition http://www.euronews.com/2014/11/05/georgia-free-democrats-leave-ruling-coalition/

EurActiv, 14.11.14: Georgian opposition: Jailing political opponents leads to Putin http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/georgia-opposition-jailing-political-opponents-leads-putin-310016

EurActiv, 18.11.14: Georgian PM reassures EU, NATO of his country’s orientation http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/georgian-pm-reassures-eu-nato-his-countrys-orientation-310099

Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 07.12.15: NATO Membership for Montenegro but Not for Georgia http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/?fa=62197

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