Georgia has become ‘stronger, more sovereign’ over the past year, Tbilisi Mayor

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has claimed Georgia had become “even stronger, more sovereign and independent” over the past year, despite the wave of protests that have taken place in the country. He made the remarks while responding to media questions on how he assessed the past year in the context of ongoing demonstrations.

According to Kaladze, Georgia’s European integration process was being used as a tool of political pressure on the government.

“We heard the official statement that talks with the EU were suspended until Irakli Kobakhidze made an announcement about it, but this is not essential. The Prime Minister, members of parliament and I have repeatedly said that the Georgian government is ready to begin negotiations, but they have no interest in this, because a political process is underway. They are trying to use the path to European integration to put pressure on the government and the country,” Kaladze said.

He argued that the main reason for this pressure was that Georgia “did not obey their orders - we did not open a second front, we did not join sanctions [against Russia].”

“This became the driving force behind the speculations and filth we have heard from some European bureaucrats in recent months,” he added.

Kaladze said the government acted solely based on the interests of the Georgian people.

“Over the past year, the country has become even stronger and more sovereign. We showed the world that no one should speak to the Georgian state by wagging a finger. We are an independent country - our ancestors earned this with their blood, and we will not allow anyone to trample on it,” he said.

Kaladze claimed that without the government’s “principled position and policy,” Georgia could have faced the same “misfortune” it experienced in 2008.

“First and foremost is the homeland. This must be understood. The majority of the population chose us to protect the interests of the people living in this country and to maintain peace, which is more important now than ever. Peace brings development and progress,” the mayor claimed.