Georgian PM defends electoral process, slams European Parliament resolution

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has rejected criticism from the European Parliament, defending the integrity of the country’s upcoming local elections and accusing EU institutions of political bias in favour of the opposition United National Movement (UNM).

In remarks to journalists on Thursday, Kobakhidze insisted that the elections would be conducted “in line with national interests” and in “full compliance with Georgian legislation.”

“It is not up to the UNM to decide how the elections will be held,” he said. “The elections will be held as required by the interests of our country, in a healthy environment, and all norms of Georgian law will be respected.”

The PM further dismissed concerns over the electoral climate raised in a recent European Parliament resolution, calling it “absolutely shameful” and accusing the broader European bureaucracy of attempting to “blackmail” the Georgian people.

“This is, if I’m not mistaken, the seventh shameful resolution adopted by the European Parliament,” Kobakhidze said. “The entire European Union bureaucracy must take responsibility for this.”

He went on to accuse European institutions of siding with the UNM and of having previously supported what he called serious abuses committed during the government of former President Mikheil Saakashvili.

“Torture, racketeering, seizure of television stations, the loss of territories - all of this was given a green light by the same post-Soviet politicians and bureaucrats who now speak in shameful language and adopt shameful resolutions.”

The European Parliament adopted the resolution this week, condemning what it described as democratic backsliding in Georgia. The resolution declared the October 2024 parliamentary elections fraudulent and called for new elections to be held under international monitoring.

MEPs also urged the EU and its partners to impose targeted sanctions on Georgian Dream founder and honorary chair Bidzina Ivanishvili and other high-ranking officials accused of “enabling authoritarian practices,” including alleged political repression, judicial interference, and attacks on civil society.

The resolution warned that Georgia’s EU integration has been effectively stalled due to the government’s actions and called on the European Commission to review its financial and political support for the country.