High-ranking US officials interfering in Georgia's electoral process mayor says

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has said that high-ranking US officials engage in Georgian elections instead of opposition.

“Prominent American officials are participating in Georgia's elections, overshadowing local opposition. This is a reality that evokes a sense of regret. Foreign interference in Georgia's parliamentary elections is completely unacceptable,” Kaladze said in an interview, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

The politician also addressed the issue of sanctions against Georgia, noting that as the parliamentary elections scheduled for October 26 approach, restrictions and statements from the West may become even stricter.  

"The opposition and the West have everything organized. They know where, when, and who should speak, as well as what should be said to maximize support for the opposition and bring them closer to the electoral threshold," Kaladze added.

Earlier, Givi Mikanadze, a member of the ruling parliamentary majority, said during a briefing that US sanctions against Tbilisi ahead of the October parliamentary elections represent an intervention by foreign powers in the electoral process.

Mikanadze noted that these sanctions attempt to influence the will of Georgian voters. 

Previously, Georgian officials affirmed that the country seeks partners, not guardians. Relations between Georgia and the US, as well as the EU, have soured following the Georgian parliament's passage of the foreign agents law in May.

In response to this legislation, the US Department of State announced visa sanctions against dozens of Georgian citizens, including officials, MPs, their family members, and law enforcement representatives. 

In July, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken declared a decision to suspend over $95 million in aid to Tbilisi due to the foreign agents law. Similarly, the EU has frozen 30 million euros that were intended for the Georgian Defence Ministry for the same reasons.

Meanwhile, Kaladze noted that threats from the EU to revoke visa-free travel for Georgia are intimidation tactics. 

“As parliamentary elections approach, such statements regarding the potential cancellation of visa liberalisation are likely to become increasingly frequent. Bureaucratically, it is quite challenging to dismantle the visa-free regime,” he said. Previously, the EU warned Georgia about the possibility of revoking its visa-free status due to a "decline in democracy". 

A European Commission representative said that the Georgian authorities must meet specific requirements for further integration into the EU, including ensuring the protection of citizens' rights and combating discrimination.

By Naila Huseynova