Georgian President accuses ruling party of following “Russian path” in speech to European Parliament

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of steering the country towards a “Russian path” while presenting itself as pursuing European integration.

Speaking to the European Parliament, Zourabichvili traced this trajectory back to the 2019 “Gavrilov incident” and highlighted a series of actions she claimed demonstrated a departure from EU-aligned reforms and values.

“There are no two parts of Georgia. On one side are the people, and on the other, the repressive apparatus of the government,” Zourabichvili said, emphasizing the growing divide between the government and the population. She warned that the country might be heading toward civil confrontation, underscoring the public’s consistent 80% support for European integration as demonstrated by polls and elections.

Zourabichvili described the 2019 incident, during which a Russian MP Sergey Gavrilov sat in the Georgian Parliament Speaker’s chair, as the beginning of a pro-Russian shift.

She criticized the withdrawal from the Charles Michel agreement to resolve the political standoff following the 2020 elections and subsequent legislative actions, including the introduction of controversial foreign transparency law this year.

The President also highlighted government rhetoric “blaming the West for the war in Ukraine”, anti-LGBTQ narratives, and claims of threats to Georgian identity by Western partners.

She also criticized former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s refusal to impose sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine in 2022, which he justified as being in “national interest.”

Zourabichvili also drew parallels between current events and Georgia’s struggles for independence, likening the situation to 1921, when Soviet forces occupied the country. She commended the Georgian people for their resilience, citing ongoing protests as a testament to their determination to protect freedom, democracy, and European aspirations.

“The Georgian people are once again standing up against what they see as the theft of their freedom and future,” she said, noting that the protests, which have lasted 21 days, reflect widespread dissatisfaction with the government’s direction.

The President’s remarks come amid heightened tensions between the Georgian government and its European partners, with criticisms of anti-democratic actions and an apparent drift from EU-aligned policies.

The Georgian Dream party has denied accusations of pursuing a Russian-aligned agenda, insisting on its commitment to European integration.

However, last month the GD authorities announced the halt in EU accession talks until 2028, citing alleged blackmail from the West.