Former FM Janelidze accepts PM Kobakhidze’s ‘offer’ for public discussion

Mikheil Janelidze, former Georgian Foreign Minister under Georgian Dream, has accepted Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s invitation for a public discussion following recent protests over Georgia’s European Union integration process.

Janelidze, who served as Foreign Minister from 2015 to 2018, responded to Kobakhidze’s call on Facebook, offering to engage in a discussion on the Georgian Public Broadcaster.

He emphasized his “sincerity”, stating that he does not represent any political party and is not fighting for power.

Kobakhidze, responding to ongoing protests that erupted on November 28, insisted that the protests reflect a “serious problem with reading comprehension” regarding the government’s European integration stance.

He “reiterated the government’s commitment to EU membership by 2030” but defended its recent decision not to pursue negotiations or accept EU budget grants until 2028.

The protests, which have spread across Tbilisi and other Georgian cities, were sparked by the Georgian Dream’s decision not to prioritize EU membership talks in the immediate future, which protesters argue stalls the country’s European integration. Opposition groups also demand new parliamentary elections, condemning the current parliament as illegitimate.