Georgia’s PM slams EU demands to repeal gender reassignment ban as "medieval inquisition"

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has sharply criticised the European Union’s demand that Georgia repeal its law banning gender reassignment, comparing the EU bureaucracy’s stance to the medieval Inquisition.

Kobakhidze made his remarks during a recent briefing, expressing strong disapproval of the EU’s position, Caliber.Az reports, citing Georgian media.

“Look at what the Venice Commission is demanding of us, how low Europe has sunk. The thinking of European bureaucracy has sunk below that of the Inquisition,” Kobakhidze stated.

He explained that Europe is pressuring Georgia to repeal the law on the protection of family values adopted last year, which specifically prohibits gender reassignment.

Kobakhidze also argued that Georgia is being unfairly punished by the EU through the cancellation of the visa-free regime, citing “absurd demands.” He went so far as to compare the situation to the persecution of Giordano Bruno, who was burned at the stake for expressing perfectly reasonable ideas.

The controversy stems from a letter published on July 16, sent from Brussels to Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili. The letter contains eight recommendations Georgia must implement to maintain visa-free travel with the EU.

Among these, the EU demands that Georgia “avoid and repeal any legislative acts that may restrict fundamental rights and freedoms, contradict the principle of non-discrimination, and do not comply with European and international standards.” Specifically, it calls for repealing the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, the legislative package on Family Values and Protection of Minors, and amending the national strategy and action plan on human rights to fully ensure the rights of LGBTIQ persons.

The letter was signed by Beate Gminder, Director-General of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs. Copies were also sent to Georgian Interior Minister Gela Geladze and EU Ambassador to Georgia Paweł Herczyński.

The document underscores that the European Commission is conducting a comprehensive assessment under the Visa Liberalisation Suspension Mechanism, reviewing compliance with obligations from the visa liberalisation agreement for third countries.

Brussels highlighted that, due to inaction from the Georgian government, “in January 2025, the European Union decided to partially suspend the Agreement on the facilitation of visa issuance between the EU and Georgia and to cancel the visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and service passports.”

By Tamilla Hasanova