Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze yesterday responded to statements made by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, which expressed concerns over Georgia’s recent government actions, claiming they had “recognized the legitimacy” of Georgia’s new Government and the October 26 parliamentary elections. The two EU officials had issued a statement on Sunday expressing regret over Georgia’s shift away from European values and its decision to delay EU accession talks until 2028. At the same time, Kobakhidze described the statements as “completely one-sided.”
He also addressed the protests in Georgia, which erupted in response to the government’s decision. Kobakhidze accused protestors of instigating violence, specifically targeting the parliament building and law enforcement officers. He said the Interior Ministry had not intervened until the violence escalated. He emphasized that the protestors were responsible for initiating the clashes, while the Ministry responded appropriately once the situation deteriorated.
Kobakhidze warned that the absence of this context in von der Leyen and Kallas’ statements would likely be seen as a “green light” by violent factions, encouraging further aggression.
On the future of Georgia’s relations with the EU, the Prime Minister stated that “justice is the key to resetting relations” between the two parties. He criticized what he described as “unfair statements” that had hindered progress, but expressed confidence that relations would improve once “fairness” was restored.
