Tbilisi cautions EU against interfering in Georgia’s political landscape

As the EU prepares to discuss and adopt measures concerning Georgia ahead of the country’s parliamentary elections, Tbilisi has issued a warning against potential interference in its internal political affairs.

Georgian Parliament Vice Speaker Giorgi Kakhiani expressed these concerns during an appearance on Georgian TV, Caliber.Az reports.

He emphasized the need for caution among EU institutions to prevent undue influence on Georgia's political landscape.

Debates in the European Parliament on Georgia started at 17:00 on October 8.

They will be followed by discussions among EU Foreign Ministers on October 14, and later by EU leaders on October 17-18. Subsequently, the European Commission is expected to release a report on enlargement, which, according to EU Ambassador to Georgia Pavel Gerchinsky, is unlikely to be favourable. A shift toward EU accession negotiations appears even less probable.

“This is a very sensitive topic. If a conclusion or resolution is adopted, we must be careful not to set a precedent that leads to gross interference in our internal political processes before the elections,” Kakhiani cautioned.

While the specifics of the upcoming acts remain uncertain, Kakhiani expressed concerns that they could serve to "revitalize a helpless opposition." He noted an uptick in external criticism of Georgian authorities as the elections approach, suggesting that such statements aim to bolster opposition forces and shape a political agenda.

He urged external actors to refrain from interfering before the elections, labelling it a serious violation of Georgian law. Kakhiani underscored that foreign interference in elections is prohibited globally.

Georgia's parliamentary elections, which will determine the government for the next four years, are set for October 26. This election marks the first time the country will employ a purely proportional system (party lists) and utilize advanced electronic technologies for verification and vote counting.

By Tamilla Hasanova