PM: campaign against UAE Eagle Hills project coordinated by same forces behind past revolutionary attempts

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has claimed that the campaign opposing the UAE Eagle Hills investment project was centrally coordinated by the same actors who previously orchestrated revolutionary processes in Georgia, insisting that the project will go ahead as planned.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Kobakhidze said the opposition campaign followed a deliberate sequence, initially involving the political party Lelo, before being passed on to other groups, including Alt-Info, the Alliance of Patriots, and what he described as the youth wing of the United National Movement.

“This campaign was coordinated from a single hand. The very same hand that managed revolutionary processes in the past is managing this as well,” Kobakhidze said. “At first, Lelo was brought onto the stage and tasked with launching a campaign against this unprecedented and flawless investment. Then Lelo was gradually pushed aside, and the campaign was handed over to Alt-Info, the Alliance of Patriots, and the National Movement’s youth wing - these dark forces.”

He further noted the goal of the campaign was to portray a major investment negatively and prevent its implementation, despite the absence of any substantive questions or concerns about the project.

“There are practically no real questions regarding this project,” Kobakhidze claimed. “Even representatives of the radical opposition failed to raise a single concrete issue during parliamentary discussions. This alone shows that the campaign has already failed.”

Kobakhidze stressed that the Eagle Hills project would proceed and deliver significant economic benefits. He said the investment would add 11 billion GEL to Georgia’s economy and increase the state budget by an average of 700 million GEL annually, funds that would be directed toward social and infrastructure projects.

“You can judge for yourselves what adding 11 billion GEL means for an economy of around 100 billion,” he said. “A stronger economy means broader benefits for society-more social programs and more infrastructure development.”

The prime minister also rejected claims that the project would lead to “Arabization,” saying the government had demonstrated full transparency, including parliamentary debates and public discussions.

“The campaign has failed. Everyone understands now that no ‘Arabization’ is taking place,” Kobakhidze concluded.