Georgian official pushes back on EU interference as election approaches

Georgian authorities perceive statements from EU politicians regarding elections and the overall situation in the country as an infringement on their electoral process.

This assertion was made by Maka Bochorishvili, the chair of the Georgian Parliament's Committee on European Integration, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

Bochorishvili emphasized, “It is an abnormal situation when politicians and leaders from other countries extensively discuss who should hold power in Georgia. For instance, after the recent elections in Lithuania, there were no comments from Georgian politicians about who ought to govern Lithuania.”

At the current EU summit in Brussels on October 17-18, European leaders are expected to caution Georgia that the actions of its government could jeopardize the nation’s aspirations for political integration within the EU. This warning is detailed in the draft conclusions of the summit, which occurs just ahead of the elections in Georgia.

The report highlights that Tbilisi was granted candidate status for EU membership at the end of 2023. However, concerns are mounting in European capitals regarding the rhetoric and actions of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

The EU document “reaffirms the Union's commitment to supporting the Georgian people on their European path,” but it also “reiterates its serious concerns regarding the actions of the Georgian authorities.”

Furthermore, the EU will underscore that the measures taken by the current government “endanger Georgia's EU aspirations and effectively stall the accession process.”

Earlier in October, the EU Ambassador to Georgia Pawel Herczynski stated that under the existing ruling party, the country would never join the EU. He expressed hope that following the parliamentary elections, Georgia would resume “the path to the EU, which has currently been interrupted.”

Prior to this, the EU Summit had indicated the potential suspension of Georgia’s admission process due to a controversial law on foreign agents.

In a related context, Sergei Naryshkin, head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, asserted that U.S. and EU authorities continue to interfere in the internal affairs of South Caucasus countries. 

The SVR has also indicated that the West is actively undermining Russia's influence in nations of the global South.

By Tamilla Hasanova