PM: Georgia needs major reset in relations with EU, US

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has said that rumours about the possible suspension of Georgia's visa-free regime with the European Union will soon become irrelevant.

"We need a significant reset in relations with both the EU and the US. We linked this reset to three events: the elections in Georgia, the elections in the US, and the end of the war in Ukraine. The elections in both Georgia and the US have concluded in such a way that everything will contribute to a reset in relations," Kobakhidze said, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

The prime minister believes the end of the war in Ukraine will come very soon: Accordingly, all conditions will soon be created for a significant reset in both directions, and after that, the speculations we often hear about laws, visa liberalization, and so on, will come to an end." 

He also noted that the Georgian authorities remain open to public discussion regarding two laws that have drawn criticism from the West — on the transparency of foreign influence and the ban on LGBT propaganda.

It is notable that relations between the EU, the US, and Georgia have significantly deteriorated after its parliament passed the "Transparency of Foreign Influence" law in May. 

The European Union has repeatedly urged the Georgian authorities to abandon this law, but leaders of the ruling party "Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia" have consistently insisted that its purpose is to ensure transparency of financial flows to NGOs in Georgia, some of which have allegedly attempted to incite a revolution in the country. Kobakhidze has repeatedly called on Western partners for discussions regarding this law.

By Khagan Isayev