Georgia is based on EU accession talks for 4 years because of blackmail

Georgia is based on EU accession talks for 4 years because of blackmail

Tbilisi, Georgia - On Thursday, Prime Minister Iracli Kobakhidze announced that Georgia will suspend his talks about joining the European Union for the next four years. He justified this decision with "extortion and manipulation" by some politicians within the EU. The announcement ensured turmoil in the opposition and led to a new wave of protests.

background of the decision

Kobakhidze’s announcement was only a few hours after he was appointed to his office by the members of the Governing Party after the controversial parliamentary elections lasted in the past month, which resulted in massive demonstrations and a boycott of parliament through the opposition. The election on October 26 was regarded as a referendum on the ends of the country's efforts to be EU membership. The opposition claimed that the elections were manipulated under the influence of Russia to keep Georgia in his sphere of influence, and called on a boycott of the parliament.

elections and international observations

European election observers reported on a split climate in which bribes, double votes and physical violence had occurred. The EU awarded Georgia in December 2023, but put the accession process on hold and reduced the financial support due to a "law on foreign influence" assessed as a blow against democratic freedoms.

Future of EU relationships

Kobakhidze explained that Georgia would continue to pursue his efforts to make EU membership, but "the opening of negotiations with the European Union will not put on the agenda by the end of 2028". In addition, he rejected all the European Union's budget grants until the end of 2028.

protests in Tbilisi and other cities

According to Kobakhidzes announcement, thousands of protesters flocked to the streets, gathered in front of the parliament building in Tbilisi and organized demonstrations in other cities. On the same day, the European Parliament passed a resolution that described the parliamentary election in Georgia as neither free nor fair and criticized the constant democratic erosion for which the ruling party of Georgian dream was responsible.

reactions of the Prime Minister

The Georgian Prime Minister rejected the criticism and described the statements of the EU politicians as "a cascade of insults". He explained that "the opponents of our country have transformed the European Parliament into a blunt weapon of blackmail against Georgia, which is a great shame for the European Union." Kobakhidze emphasized: "We will continue our way to the European Union; however, we will not allow someone to keep us in a constant state of blackmail and manipulation."

allegations against the government party

Critics accuse the party of Georgian dream, founded by Bidzina Ivanishvili, an opaque billion dollar businessman, to increasingly act authoritarian and to turn to Moscow. The party has recently implemented laws that are similar to those of the Kremlin and are directed against freedom of expression and the rights of the LGBTQ community.

future political development

During a speech in parliament, Kobakhidze describes the parliamentary choice of the last month as "also a referendum between immoral propaganda and traditional values, and our society has chosen traditional values." The EU temporarily suspended Georgia's accession process in June after Parliament had passed a law, the organizations that received more than 20% of its financing from abroad, forcing himself to register as "in the interest of a foreign power".

reactions of the president

The President Salome Zourabichvili, whose six -year term of office ends next month, rejected the official election results and did not recognize the legitimacy of the parliament. In a speech to the nation, she denounced the developments as a "coup d'état", which aims to lead the country from Europe and towards Russia. It accused the ruling party of "waging a war against our future, the future of our society and the future of our country"

outlook and upcoming elections

Zourabichvili was elected by the election, but Georgia has decided on constitutional changes that abolished the direct election of the president. Instead, the President will be elected by a 300-member election college in the future, which consists of members of the parliament, the municipal councils and the regional legislative. On Wednesday, the ruling party Mikheil Kavelashvili, a 53-year-old former international and Premier League player, nominated for the presidency, who is expected to win the election on December 14th because the college is controlled by the government.