Georgian Opposition Leader Gvaramia Hopes EU Visa-Free Decision Will Be Delayed

Nika Gvaramia, a Georgian opposition leader, former justice and education minister and co-founder of the Coalition for Change, says he hopes any potential decision affecting Georgia’s visa-free travel with the European Union will be delayed long enough for political change to take place in the country.

Gvaramia also predicted that Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze may leave office by the end of October, linking his assessment to the European Council meeting scheduled for mid-October.

“Kobakhidze does not look strong. He will probably no longer be in office by the end of October because, as far as I can see, his last chance will come in mid-October, when the European Council meets and a decision concerning Georgia is expected,” Gvaramia said.

According to Gvaramia, the anticipated decision could have serious consequences for Georgia’s European integration prospects.

“According to my information, unfortunately, this decision will be very difficult, and Georgia will once again be pushed into the Eastern basket, which will effectively leave the country without prospects. There will likely be a condition that this situation remains in place until there is a fundamental change of government,” he said.

Gvaramia said he hoped that any decision concerning Georgia’s visa-free travel with the EU would be postponed.

“I hope that the issue of visa-free travel will be postponed, at least for a while, and that in the meantime we will manage to bring about change in this country,” he said.

He argued that keeping the current government in power even for a limited period could cause what he described as irreversible damage to the country.

“We must be prepared for the fact that Bidzina Ivanishvili and his puppets will bring nothing good to this country,” Gvaramia said.

He also argued that Georgia’s prospects of joining the European Union, moving closer to Europe and restoring its territorial integrity were effectively nonexistent as long as Ivanishvili remained politically influential.

“The chance of Georgia becoming a member of the European Union and moving closer to Europe, or of restoring our territorial integrity which is directly linked to European integration is zero as long as Bidzina Ivanishvili remains in this country,” Gvaramia said.