Georgia, TBILISI (AP) Georgia’s prime minister announced Thursday that negotiations on its quest to join the European Union will be put on hold for four years due to what he called manipulation and coercion by some of the bloc’s politicians.
Irakli Kobakhize made the statement just hours after members of the ruling Georgian Dream party reappointed him to the role following the party’s contentious victory in the parliamentary election last month, which provoked protests and resulted in an opposition boycott of parliament.
Many people interpreted the election on October 26 as a referendum on the nation’s desire to join the European Union. The opposition announced a boycott of parliament and claimed that the vote was rigged by Russia, which was trying to keep Georgia in its orbit.
According to European election observers, there were incidents of bribery, double voting, and physical violence during the voting process, creating a polarizing environment.
Due to Georgia’s reversal on democracy, the EU has previously declared that the membership negotiations have been de-facto terminated.
Kobakhidze said in a statement on Thursday that although the nation will continue its attempt to join the EU, it will not put the topic of starting talks with the EU on the agenda until the end of 2028.
He also stated that until the end of 2028, we will not accept any fiscal grants from the European Union.
A resolution denouncing last month’s Georgian parliamentary vote as neither free nor fair was adopted by the European Parliament earlier Thursday. This is just another example of the nation’s ongoing democratic regression, for which the ruling Georgian Dream party bears full responsibility.
Within a year, EU legislators called for a rerun of the parliamentary vote, overseen by an independent electoral administration and closely monitored by the international community. Additionally, they urged the EU to restrict official interactions with the Georgian government and apply sanctions.
“We will not allow anyone to keep us in a constant state of blackmail and manipulation, which is completely disrespectful to our country and society,” Kobakhidze stated, adding that we will continue on our journey toward the European Union. We must make it abundantly evident to certain European politicians and bureaucrats—who are wholly lacking in European values—that they should address Georgia with respect rather than using insults and coercion.
The prime minister of Georgia condemned what he called a barrage of insults from EU MPs, accusing them of using the European Parliament as a brutal tool for blackmail against Georgia, which is a huge embarrassment for the EU.
Georgian Dream, founded by mysterious millionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, who amassed his wealth in Russia, has come under fire for allegedly growing more dictatorial and pro-Moscow. The party recently passed legislation that repressed LGBTQ+ rights and freedom of speech in a manner akin to that employed by the Kremlin.
Speaking in parliament earlier today, Kobakhidze explained that last month’s legislative vote was a referendum between traditional values and immoral propaganda, and our society opted for the latter.
After Georgia’s parliament passed a law requiring organizations that receive more than 20% of their funding from outside sources to register as pursuing the interest of a foreign power—a law that is similar to one used in Russia to discredit government-critical organizations—the EU suspended Georgia’s membership application process indefinitely in June.
Salome Zourabichvili, whose six-year term ends next month, has denied the legitimacy of the parliament and rejected the official results. Although Zourabichvili was elected by popular vote, Georgia has ratified constitutional amendments that eliminated direct presidential elections and substituted a vote by a 300-seat electoral college made up of members of regional legislatures, local councils, and parliament.
Mikheil Kavelashvili, a 53-year-old former Premier League and national team player, was nominated by the ruling party on Wednesday for the largely ceremonial position of president. By the ruling party’s domination of the electoral college, he is virtually guaranteed to win the vote on December 14.
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