Prime Minister Kobakhidze Announces Four-Year Pause on Georgia’s EU Talks

Georgia is pausing its efforts to join the European Union for four years, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced on Thursday, citing “blackmail and manipulation” from certain EU politicians. This decision has sparked outrage among the opposition and led to fresh protests.

Kobakhidze’s announcement came shortly after his reappointment by members of the ruling Georgian Dream party, following its contentious victory in last month’s parliamentary election. The election, seen as a referendum on Georgia’s EU aspirations, has been marred by allegations of vote-rigging and a boycott by the opposition, who claim Russian influence.

European election observers reported that the election was conducted in a divisive environment, with instances of bribery, double voting, and physical violence. The EU granted Georgia candidate status in December 2023, conditional on meeting the bloc’s recommendations. However, the EU put accession on hold and reduced financial support after Georgia passed a “foreign influence” law, perceived as undermining democratic freedoms.

Kobakhidze stated that while Georgia remains committed to joining the EU, negotiations will not be pursued until the end of 2028. He also announced a rejection of EU budgetary grants until then.

The announcement led to thousands of protesters taking to the streets, particularly outside the parliament building in Tbilisi, and in other cities. Earlier, the European Parliament condemned the recent Georgian parliamentary vote as neither free nor fair, attributing the democratic decline to the ruling Georgian Dream party.

EU lawmakers called for a rerun of the parliamentary elections within a year, under comprehensive international supervision and by an independent election administration. They also suggested imposing sanctions and limiting formal contacts with the Georgian government.

In response, Kobakhidze accused EU politicians of a “cascade of insults” and using the European Parliament as a tool of blackmail against Georgia. He insisted that Georgia would continue its path toward the EU but would not tolerate manipulation and disrespect.

In his parliamentary address, Kobakhidze framed the parliamentary vote as a choice between “immoral propaganda” and “traditional values,” claiming that Georgian society chose the latter.

The EU indefinitely suspended Georgia’s membership application process in June, following the passage of a law requiring organizations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as foreign agents, akin to a Russian law used to undermine government critics.

President Salome Zourabichvili, whose term ends next month, has rejected the election results and refused to recognize the parliament’s legitimacy. Zourabichvili met with EU ambassadors and opposition leaders following Kobakhidze’s announcement, condemning it as a coup aimed at steering the country away from Europe and towards Russia. She argued that this path threatens Georgian statehood and independence, leading only to Russian dominance.
Frances Ibiefo

Follow us on: