Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said the country has postponed EU accession negotiations until 2028.
Massive protests continue in Georgia against the country’s government’s decision to suspend European Union accession negotiations.
Tens of thousands of people gathered at the Georgian parliament building in the center of Tbilisi, even more than the previous day. Many of the demonstrators were holding photos of journalists who had been beaten by the police the previous day. It is also known about a crowded demonstration in Batumi. Last night, the police tried several times to stop similar protests by city residents, using water cannons and tear gas. Dozens of people were arrested.
Without European integration
A new wave of protests was caused by the statement of the country’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze that his government does not intend to return to accession negotiations with the European Union until the end of 2028.
After that, people started going to rallies spontaneously, without waiting for calls from the opposition.
For a decade and a half, European integration has been the main goal of Georgia’s foreign policy. In December 2023, the country officially received EU candidate status.
The Georgian Dream party in power insists it is not abandoning its path towards the West altogether, despite conflicts with Brussels, but is just biding its time.
However, Kobakhidze’s words play into the hands of the Georgian opposition, which accuses the current government of moving closer to Moscow and claims that the parliamentary elections held in the country on October 26 were accompanied by massive fraud.
The prime minister’s statement moved not only his critics – it may also disappoint the pro-Western part of supporters of the current government, who believe that the Georgian Dream will continue to lead the country to EU membership.
In Georgia, according to polls, about 70-80% of the population supports the country’s future in the EU.
Reaction
The President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, as well as the opposition that does not recognize the results of the recent parliamentary elections, held meetings with the diplomatic corps and representatives of the opposition.
He also participates in demonstrations in Tbilisi.
“Now the path that started a few months ago, if not earlier, from Europe to Russia has ended,” Zurabishvili said. “Any doubts that anyone might have had that this might not be the case, that there might be another explanation, are now dispelled.”
“Today this illegal government has not declared peace, but war on its own people, the past, the future, the future, the future of our society and country. On this path there is no Georgian statehood, or its independence, or its future, except for Russia,” the president said.
Shortly before Kobakhidze’s statement, the European Parliament adopted another, but the first resolution after the parliamentary elections, calling for new elections in Georgia under the conditions of an independent election administration and under careful international supervision.
MEPs also called on the EU and EU countries to introduce personal sanctions against Georgian officials and political leaders guilty of undermining democracy, violating electoral norms and abusing state institutions .
Among such people, among others, are Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Speaker of Parliament Shalva Papuaashvili and the honorary chairman of the ruling party, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.