‘Witch-hunt’ claims hit Georgia politics

Allies of President Mikheil Saakashvili accused Georgia’s new billionaire-led government in November 2012 of pursuing a witch-hunt against the former leading party that could undermine the fragile democracy.

Senior foreign officials have also warned Bidzina Ivanishvili, the tycoon whose opposition coalition won a surprise victory in parliamentary elections in October 2012, to end a series of arrests of people linked to the party of Mr Saakashvili, who remains president. Lady Ashton, the EU foreign policy chief, was expected to deliver a similar message in a visit to Tbilisi on the 26 November 2012.

ESO: Background information: Georgian parliamentary election, 2012 http://www.europeansources.info/record/georgian-parliamentary-election-2012/

EU: EEAS: Countries: The EU's relations with Georgia http://eeas.europa.eu/georgia/index_en.htm

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