Levan Sanikidze, a senior figure in the United National Movement, has accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of deliberately working to sabotage Georgia’s visa-free travel agreement with the European Union. He claims this is part of a broader agenda by Bidzina Ivanishvili, whom he accuses of effectively “sanctioning” the entire Georgian population.
“Georgian Dream is actively undermining the visa liberalization process. They’ve already lost the information battle and can no longer shift the blame onto Georgian citizens, our international allies, or the opposition,” Sanikidze said. “In effect, Bidzina Ivanishvili is punishing four million Georgians.”
According to Sanikidze, the ruling party has no intention of meeting its commitments to the European Union.
“Both Georgian Dream and its propaganda apparatus are now backed into a corner. I firmly believe they will fail to honor either the legal or political responsibilities required by the EU,” he stated. “They are systematically dismantling Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration. The remaining time in their term will not be used to fulfill these commitments, which are meant to protect the interests of the Georgian people. But Georgian Dream has no intention of serving those interests.”
Sanikidze referenced events from late 2024, alleging that Ivanishvili’s rise to power on October 26 and the violence on Rustaveli Avenue on November 28 marked a turning point. He emphasized that the EU has previously declared that Georgia’s government will not be seen as legitimate unless it conducts fair elections and releases political prisoners.
“The protection of human rights is paramount. Ivanishvili is using this situation to pressure the Georgian people and Europe. He leverages strategic projects like the Middle Corridor and the fiber-optic cable, along with his regional influence, to manipulate the narrative,” Sanikidze claimed. “If it weren’t for the strong pro-European stance of Georgian citizens, visa liberalization might have already been revoked after the so-called ‘Russian law’ was passed.”
He warned that losing visa-free access to Europe would be a devastating consequence of the government’s actions.
“It would be a tragic blow. Ivanishvili’s grip on power is the reason Georgians may end up paying the price,” he said.
Sanikidze also addressed the US State Department’s 2024 human rights report on Georgia, highlighting its criticism of Georgian Dream.
“This report, even under the Trump administration, delivers strong condemnation of the current regime. It documents systemic violence, unprecedented media repression, and growing authoritarianism. In my opinion, it speeds up the passage of the MEGOBARI Act,” he noted. “Georgian Dream has no path to legitimacy—not even with Trump’s White House. That’s why we believe the MEGOBARI Act will be passed early this fall. It will send a clear message of solidarity with the Georgian people and strike a serious blow to Georgian Dream’s pro-Russian regime.”
By Team GT
