Georgian MP criticises EU’s double standards

Prohibiting the application of the same principles and standards used for EU countries to Georgia demonstrates unfair and harmful treatment of the country, Mariam Lashkhi, a member of Georgia’s ruling party “Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia,” said.

Lashkhi stated that what is required for EU member states cannot be applied to Georgia, Caliber.Az reports, citing Sputnik Georgia.

“This again demonstrates harmful treatment toward our country, which is unjust. What applies to EU countries should be considered and applied on the same principles to the situation in Georgia,” she emphasised.

On November 27, members of the European Parliament backed measures aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in lobbying by third countries, focusing on strengthening the EU’s protection against external interference.

The plan includes creating a single European registry and assigning organisations a special identification number. Negotiations with EU member states will begin once the Council finalises its position.

"Earlier, in response to the adoption of the “Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence” and the “Law on Protection of Family Values and Minors,” which prohibits LGBT propaganda, Brussels reviewed its relations with Tbilisi in 2024 by refusing high-level meetings with representatives of the “Georgian Dream” party and suspending financial aid. Essentially, the country’s EU integration was halted."

In response, on November 28, 2024, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced the decision to remove from the agenda, until 2028, the opening of negotiations on the country’s EU accession. The European Union criticised this decision and accused “Georgian Dream” of a democratic rollback, calling for “immediate return to the EU path.”

On January 27, 2025, Brussels, as a punitive measure against officials, suspended the visa-free regime for holders of Georgian diplomatic and service passports.

In July 2025, the European Commission sent a letter to the Georgian Foreign Ministry, demanding the repeal of the “foreign agents” and LGBT propaganda laws, threatening to suspend the visa-free regime for ordinary citizens as well.

The authorities call the conditions “unrealistic,” but at the same time are confident that the visa-free regime will not be suspended.

By Jeyhun Aghazada