Kakha Kaladze, the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Friday claimed by not granting Tbilisi its membership candidate status last year, the European Union had attempted to “spark unrest” in Georgia and overthrow the current authorities. 

"When they [the European Council] made the decision not to grant the status [in June 2022], they couldn't find an explanation, they didn't know what to say. It was due to usual political motives, and behind all this was the goal of a coup in the country, to overthrow the Government”, Kaladze told the press. 

He further added “they came out, told the people that you know, you are good people. You deserve the status, but you have a bad Government. They wanted to create chaos and destabilization in the country, but they failed. Georgian people are smart, they see everything very well, and we will not give anyone the opportunity, no matter who they are, to use our people [for their own goals]”. 

“We are ready for friendship, partnership, we don't mind it, but it should be mutual”, Kaladze stressed. 

The European Council is scheduled to decide on Georgia’s status in December, after granting Tbilisi a European perspective and a reform agenda for implementations last year, while Ukraine and Moldova, two other members in the bloc’s Associated Trio, were granted its full candidacy.